Sutherlandia (sutherlandia frutescens) is an indigenous bush known locally as "kankerbos" (cancer bush).


The plant has traditional medicinal qualities, used to treat a variety of ailments. Sutherlandia is now a commercially recognised product and is available in pill and capsule form from all of the major homeopathic producers.

We have grown a small number of bushes from seed as an experiment. At present we have not found a commercial market for the plant, but it remains an interesting possibility for the future.


Sutherlandia is a small bush at 1 – 2 metres with large red flowers and bladder-like seed pods.  It is an old Cape medicine used for stomach ailments and cancers, as well as to wash wounds and for treatment of diabetes.  Sutherlandia seeds contain canavanine, an amino acid with anti-tumourigenic properties which accounts for plants traditional medicinal use.  It also contains pinitol, which would assist with diabetes treatment.  We are presently investigating the market for this interesting plant.