TEDGlobal 2014
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim: Humble plants that hide surprising secrets
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In this intriguing talk, biologist Ameenah Gurib-Fakim introduces us to rare plant species from isolated islands and regions of Africa. Meet the shape-shifting benjoin; the baume de l'ile plate, which might offer a new treatment for asthma; and the iconic baobab tree, which could hold the key to the future of food. Plus: monkey apples.
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim - President of Mauritius
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is the president of the Republic of Mauritius. She has been a university professor and entrepreneur before her election as the first female Head of State of Mauritius. Full bio
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is the president of the Republic of Mauritius. She has been a university professor and entrepreneur before her election as the first female Head of State of Mauritius. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
You know, it's a big privilege for me
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to be working in one of the
biodiversity hotspots in the world:
biodiversity hotspots in the world:
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the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean.
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These islands — Mauritius,
Rodrigues, and Réunion —
Rodrigues, and Réunion —
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along with the island of Madagascar,
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they are blessed with unique plants
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found nowhere else in the world.
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And today I will tell you
about five of them
about five of them
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and their particular features
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and why these plants are so unique.
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Take a look at this plant.
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I call it benjoin in the local vernacular,
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and the botanical name
is Terminalia bentzoe,
is Terminalia bentzoe,
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subspecies bentzoe.
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This subspecies is endemic to Mauritius,
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and its particular feature
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is its heterophylly.
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What do I mean by heterophylly?
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It's that the same plant
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has got leaves that are different shapes and sizes.
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Now, these plants have evolved
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very far away from the mainland,
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and within specific ecosystems.
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Often, these particular features
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have evolved as a response to the threat
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presented by the local fauna,
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in this case, grazing tortoises.
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Tortoises are known to have poor eyesight,
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and as such, they tend to avoid the plants
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they don't recognize.
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So this evolutionary
foil safeguards the plant
foil safeguards the plant
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against these rather cute animals,
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and protects it and of course
ensures its survival.
ensures its survival.
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Now the question you're
probably asking yourself is,
probably asking yourself is,
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why is she telling us all these stories?
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The reason for that is that we tend to overlook
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the diversity and the variety of the natural world.
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These particular habitats are unique
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and they are host to a whole lot of plants.
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We don't realize how valuable
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and how precious these resources are,
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and yet, through our insouciance,
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we keep on destroying them.
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We're all familiar
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with the macro impact of urbanization,
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climate change, resource exploitation,
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but when that one last plant —
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or animal for that matter —
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when that very last specimen
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has disappeared from the face of this Earth,
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we would have lost
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an entire subset of the Earth's biology,
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and with it, important plants
with medicinal potential
with medicinal potential
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or which could have ingredients
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that would speak to the cosmetic,
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nutrition, pharma,
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and even the ethno-veterinary sectors,
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be gone forever.
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And here we have a very prime example
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of the iconic dodo, which comes from Mauritius,
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and, of course, we know is
now a symbol of extinction.
now a symbol of extinction.
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We know plants have a
fundamental role to play.
fundamental role to play.
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Well, first of all, they feed us
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and they also give us
the oxygen we breathe,
the oxygen we breathe,
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but plants are also the source
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of important, biologically active ingredients
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that we should be studying very carefully,
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because human societies over the millennia,
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they have developed important knowledge,
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cultural traditions,
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and important plant-based medicinal resources.
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Here's a data point:
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1.4 percent of the entire land surface
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is home to 40 percent of
the species of higher plants,
the species of higher plants,
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35 percent of the species of vertebrates,
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and this 1.4 percent
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represents the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world,
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and this 1.4 percent of the entire land surface
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already provides for 35 percent
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of the ecosystem services
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that vulnerable people depend on.
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And as you can see,
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the island of Mauritius
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where I work and where I live,
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belongs to one such biodiversity hotspot,
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and I study the unique plants
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on the island for their
biomedical applications.
biomedical applications.
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Now, let's go back again
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to that first plant I showed you,
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the one, of course, with
different-shaped leaves
different-shaped leaves
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and different sizes, Terminalia bentzoe,
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subspecies bentzoe,
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a plant only found in Mauritius.
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Now, the local people,
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they used a decoction of the leaves
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against infectious diseases.
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Now our work, that is,
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the scientific validation of
this traditional information,
this traditional information,
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has shown that precisely
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that leaf extract shows activity, potent activity,
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against a wide range of bacteria
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that could be pathogenic to humans.
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Now, could this plant be the answer
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to antibiotic resistance?
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You know, antibiotic resistance is proving to be
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a big challenge globally.
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While we may not be sure, one thing is certain:
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we will not want this plant to disappear.
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But the harsh reality is that
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this particular plant is in fact
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considered to be vulnerable
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in its natural habitat.
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This brings me to another example.
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This bush here is known as baume de l'ile plate
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in the local vernacular.
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The botanical name is Psiadia arguta.
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It's a plant which is rare,
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which is endemic to Mauritius.
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It used to grow on the mainland,
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but through the sheer
pressures of urbanization
pressures of urbanization
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has been pushed out of the mainland,
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and we've managed to bring it back
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from the brink of extinction
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by developing in vitro plants
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which are now growing in the wild.
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Now, one thing I must
point out straightaway
point out straightaway
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is that not all plants
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can be developed in vitro.
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While we humans, we are
happy in our comfort zone,
happy in our comfort zone,
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these plants also need
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their ecosystem to be preserved,
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and they don't react — endemic plants
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don't react to very harsh
changes in their ecosystem,
changes in their ecosystem,
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and yet we know what are the challenges
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that climate change, for example,
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is posing to these plants.
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Now, the local people again use the leaves
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in traditional medicine
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against respiratory problems.
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Now, our preliminary labwork
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on the leaf extract has shown
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that precisely these
leaves contain ingredients
leaves contain ingredients
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that are very close,
in terms of structures,
in terms of structures,
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chemical structures, to those medicines
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which are sold in the chemist's shop
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against asthma.
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So who knows
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what humanity will benefit from
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should this plant decide
to reveal all its secrets.
to reveal all its secrets.
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Now, I come from the developing world
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where we are forever being
challenged with this issue
challenged with this issue
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of population explosion.
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Africa is the continent
which is getting younger,
which is getting younger,
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and whenever one talks
about population explosion,
about population explosion,
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one talks about the issue of food security
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as being the other side of the same coin.
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Now this plant here, the baobab,
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could be part of the answer.
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It's an underutilized, neglected food plant.
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It defines the landscape of West Africa,
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where it is known as the tree of life,
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and later on I will tell you why
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the Africans consider it to be the tree of life.
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Now interestingly, there are many legends
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which are associated with this plant.
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Because of its sheer size,
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it was meant to be lording over lesser plants,
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so God didn't like this arrogance,
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uprooted it, and planted it upside down,
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hence its particular shape.
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And if you look at this tree again
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within the African context,
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in West Africa, it's known
as the palaver tree,
as the palaver tree,
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because it performs great social functions.
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Now if you have a problem in the community,
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meeting under the palaver tree
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with the chiefs or the tribesmen
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would be synonymous to trying to find a solution
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to that particular problem,
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and also to reinforce trust and respect
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among members of the community.
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From the scientific point of view,
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there are eight species of baobab in the world.
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There's one from Africa,
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one from Australia,
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and six are endemic
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to the island of Madagascar.
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The one I have showed you
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is the one from Africa,
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Adansonia digitata.
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Now, the flower, this
beautiful white flower,
beautiful white flower,
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it opens at night, is pollinated by bats,
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and it gives rise to the fruit
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which is curiously known
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as the monkey apple.
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The monkeys are not stupid animals.
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They know what's good for them.
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Now, if you open the fruit of the baobab,
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you'll see a white, floury pulp,
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which is very rich in nutrients
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and has got protein,
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more protein than in human milk.
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Yes, you heard right:
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more protein than in human milk.
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And this is one of the reasons why
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the nutrition companies of this world,
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they are looking for this fruit to provide
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what we know as reinforced food.
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The seeds give an oil, a very stable oil
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which is sought after
by the cosmetic industry
by the cosmetic industry
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to give to produce body lotions, for example.
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And if you look at the trunk,
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the trunk, of course, safeguards water,
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which is often harvested by a thirsty traveler,
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and the leaves are used in traditional medicine
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against infectious disease.
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Now, you can see now why the Africans consider it
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to be the tree of life.
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It's a complete plant,
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and in fact, the sheer size of these trees
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is hiding a massive potential,
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not only for the pharma, nutrition,
and the cosmetic industry.
and the cosmetic industry.
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What I have showed you here
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is only the species from Africa,
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Adansonia digitata.
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We have six species yet in Madagascar,
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and we don't know what
is the potential of this plant,
is the potential of this plant,
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but one thing we know is that the flora
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is considered to be
threatened with extinction.
threatened with extinction.
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Let me take you to Africa again,
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and introduce you to one of my very favorite,
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the resurrection plant.
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Now here you'll find
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that even Jesus has competition.
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(Laughter)
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Now, this plant here has developed
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remarkable tolerance to drought,
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which enables it to withstand
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up to 98 percent dehydration
over the period of a year
over the period of a year
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without damage,
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and yet it can regenerate
itself almost completely
itself almost completely
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overnight, over 24 hours, and flower.
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Now, us human beings,
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we're always on the lookout for the elixir of youth.
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We don't want to get old, and rightly so.
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Why should we, especially if you can afford it?
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And this gives you an indication
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of what the plant looks like before.
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Now, if you are an inexperienced gardener,
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the first thing you'll do
when you visit the garden
when you visit the garden
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is to uproot this plant because it's dead.
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But if you water it, this is what you get.
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Absolutely amazing.
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Now, if you look at our aging process,
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the aging process is in fact the loss of water
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from the upper epidermis, resulting in wrinkling
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as we know it, especially women,
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we are so conscious of this.
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And this plant, in fact, is giving
the cosmetic chemists
the cosmetic chemists
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very important ingredients
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that are actually finding ways
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to slow down the aging process
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and at the same time reinforce the cells
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against the onslaught of environmental toxins.
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Now, these four examples
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I have just given you
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are just a very tiny reminder
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as to how our health
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and our survival are closely linked
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to the health and the resilience
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of our ecosystem,
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and why we should be very careful
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about preserving biodiversity.
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Every time a forest is cut down,
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every time a marsh is filled in,
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it is a potential lab that goes with it,
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and which we will never, ever recover.
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And I know what I'm talking about,
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coming from Mauritius and missing the dodo.
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Let me finish with just one last example.
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Conservation issues are normally guided
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towards rare, endemic plants,
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but what we call exotic plants,
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that is, the ones which grow in many
different habitats across the world,
different habitats across the world,
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they also need to be considered.
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You know why? Because the environment plays
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a very important role
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in modifying the composition of that plant.
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So let's take a look at this plant here,
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Centella asiatica. It's a weed.
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We call it a weed.
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Now, Centella asiatica
grows across the world
grows across the world
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in many different habitats —
in Africa, in Asia —
in Africa, in Asia —
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and this plant has been instrumental
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in providing a solution
to that dreadful disease
to that dreadful disease
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called leprosy in Madagascar in the 1940s.
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Now, while Centella
grows across the world —
grows across the world —
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in Africa, in Asia —
the best quality Centella
the best quality Centella
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comes from Madagascar,
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because that Centella contains
the three vital ingredients
the three vital ingredients
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which are sought after by the pharma
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and the cosmetic companies.
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And the cosmetic companies
are already using it
are already using it
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to make regenerating cream.
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Now, there is an ancient saying
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that for every disease known to mankind,
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there is a plant to cure it.
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Now, you may not
believe in ancient sayings.
believe in ancient sayings.
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You may think they're obsolete
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now that our science and
technology are so powerful.
technology are so powerful.
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So you may look on Centella as being
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an insignificant, humble weed,
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which, if destroyed, won't be missed.
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But you know, there is no such thing as a weed.
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It's a plant.
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It's a living biological lab
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that may well have answers
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to the question that we may have,
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but we have to ensure
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that it has the right to live.
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Thank you.
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(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim - President of MauritiusAmeenah Gurib-Fakim is the president of the Republic of Mauritius. She has been a university professor and entrepreneur before her election as the first female Head of State of Mauritius.
Why you should listen
In June 2015, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim became the first female president of Mauritius. She's been honored as one of Foreign Policy's 2015 Global Thinkers and is moving to create opportunity and growth for her island home. Gurib-Fakim has been, prior to joining the State House, the Managing Director of the Centre International de Développement Pharmaceutique (CIDP) Research and Innovation as well as professor of organic chemistry with an endowed chair at the University of Mauritius.
Gurib-Fakim has long been a leading biodiversity scientist studying and validating the flora of Mauritius, one of the world's key biodiversity hotspots. As an entrepreneur at CIDP R & I and professor of organic chemistry, she analyzed the plants from the region for their health, nutritional and cosmetic applications.
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim | Speaker | TED.com