Research by Adelaide University shows a traditional Indigenous anti-inflammatory may be a possible treatment for people suffering from bowel diseases and intestinal damage.

Emu oil is taken from the fat of emus and laboratory testing has shown it can speed the repair of the bowel lining and intestines of chemotherapy patients.

Chemotherapy causes painful intestinal ulcers in up to 60 per cent of patients.

Suzanne Mashtoub Abimosleh from the university says the testing has shown positive results.

"I'm looking forward to seeing emu oil undergo a controlled clinical trial to determine whether my encouraging laboratory studies are actually going to translate into a clinical benefit for these cancer patients or inflammatory bowel disease sufferers," she said.