Traditional Samoan medicine could hold the key to fight viruses as a group of Pacific female scientists researching the use of Samoan medicine say early results are promising.

Award winning researcher Dr Natalie Netzler (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Hauā, Moto’otua, Scotland) senior lecturer, and virologist at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, is part of a research team investigating how traditional medicine can contribute to and complement western medicine. 

Along with Dr Helen Woolner (Cook Island Māori - Mauke: Kimiangatau; Papa'a) from Victoria University, and Masuisuialemalietoa Dr Seeseei Molimau-Samasoni (Sāmoa: Leulumoega Tuai; Apolima Uta), Manager of the Plants and Postharvest Technologies Division in the Scientific Research Organisation of Sāmoa, the study also involves a network of traditional healer practitioners in Sāmoa.

For the last six months, the scientists have investigated the anti-viral properties of Sāmoan medicine against COVID-19.  

“This really is the first time the use of traditional medicine has been fully studied against COVID-19; the early results are promising.” said Dr Netzler. 

Leading the virology, she is testing traditional medicines against different viruses, to see whether traditional medicines work in combination with clinical antivirals like Paxlovid, or if they cancel each other out. Dr Netzler was invited onto the project once her colleagues had evidence that showed they were onto something.

“There have been no real studies into looking closely at the contribution of traditional medicine, Dr Woolner and Dr Molimau-Samasoni found anti-inflammatory properties of a plant that's up there with ibuprofen,” she said.

Dr Molimau-Samasoni a traditional healer, (whose knowledge came down from her maternal grandmother’s side) received her PhD in Australia; she also leads the liaison between the traditional medicine practitioners from her villages, and advises on extraction methods, uses and plants etc. Dr Woolner, a Natural Products Chemist, leads the chemical analyses of the medicines to identify the bioactive properties.

Dr. Netzler said their coming together was fortuitous given there were so few Pacific women in bio-medical science.  Safeguarding and acknowledging the passing down of traditional knowledge was a joint vision of all three who have experienced first-hand treatment of traditional medicine.

“My dad, Gene Netzler, used to do the fofo (Sāmoan massage) my great-paternal grandmother, Mary Agnes Brunt practised traditional Sāmoan medicine, and it was used through that side of the aiga.”

She was particularly excited about the holistic approach of traditional medicine, drawing up safety guidelines for Pacific clinicians and healers, to make them safe and effective. 

“We know how important traditional medicine is for our communities. We want to be clear; we are a Pacific female-led team, we know how important it is to our communities to safeguard this knowledge, ensuring that intellectual property stays with them, we are not trying to validate but define the scope of antiviral activities so that there is local benefit for the community.

After centuries of tried and tested expertise in traditional medicine across the Pacific, Dr Netzler said together the team were looking to find solutions to some of the current viral threats to our health across the Pacific including influenza, COVID, RSV and mosquito-borne diseases like the dengue virus. After finding that two traditional Samoan medicine extracts have antiviral activity against the virus that causes COVID, the team are now seeking additional external funding to continue this important work.