Sutherlandia

Plant photography
coming soon

Photo Credit

—

1 of 1

Common Names

Afrikaans

Kankerbos · Blaasertjie

English

Cancer Bush · Balloon Pea

Khoikhoi

not documented

Ndebele

not documented

San

not documented

Sepedi

not documented

Sesotho

not documented

Setswana

not documented

Swati

not documented

Tsonga

not documented

Venda

not documented

Xhosa

unwele · insiswa

Zulu

unwele

Common Name

Sutherlandia

Scientific Name

Lessertia frutescens

Family

Fabaceae

Native Region

Western and Northern Cape, indigenous to South Africa and Lesotho.

Annual
Production

40–200 t

Export Revenue

R20–50m

Export Markets

EU, USA

Livelihoods

400–1,500

Protection & Benefit Sharing

No GI No GI protection. Now botanically classified as Lessertia frutescens (synonym: Sutherlandia frutescens), commonly known as cancer bush — an adaptogenic tonic with confirmed immune-modulating research.

No BSA No formal agreement. Khoikhoi, Xhosa, Cape Malay and Afrikaner healing traditions all contributed to the kankerbos knowledge base — no single rights holder.

Organic Certified organic production available from Western Cape producers.

Wild Harvest Mix of cultivation and wild harvest across Western and Northern Cape.

Provinces

ECEastern Cape

FSFree State

GTGauteng

KZNKwaZulu-Natal

LIMLimpopo

MPMpumalanga

NCNorthern Cape

NWNorth West

WCWestern Cape

Key

Registered farm

Certified organic

Introduction

A pharmacologically complex legume native to the Cape and Karoo. Traditionally known as 'Cancer Bush,' it is an adaptogenic tonic validated for immunomodulatory and anti-tumour properties.

Active Compounds

L-canavanine
GABA
Pinitol
Sutherlandins A-D
Cycloartane triterpenoids

Traditional Uses

General tonic (serious illness)
Immune support
Stress/Anxiety
Blood sugar management
Wound healing

Clinically Validated

L-canavanine anti-tumour activity in vitro
GABA-mediated anxiolytic and neuroprotective effects
Pinitol insulin-sensitising and anti-inflammatory activity
Immunomodulatory effects on human PBMCs
Confirmed drug interaction with CYP3A4 pathway (Mills et al., 2005)

Cultivation

Arid/semi-arid; drought-tolerant; well-drained sandy soil; frost-tolerant.

Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Karoo

Commercial & Trade Notes

Established organic production; easy propagation from seed.

Indigenous Knowledge

Cross-cultural first-aid staple for wasting diseases, cancer, and TB. Known by Khoisan as a general tonic and Afrikaner communities as 'Kankerbos.' Deeply embedded in southern African medicinal pharmacopoeia.

Health