Analysis of Three Species of Traditionally Used for Hypermelanosis in Selected Provinces in South Africa.

There is a growing demand and use of herbal cosmetics for skin purposes due to their perceived safety when applied to the skin. Three species commonly known as "ummemezi" are used interchangeably by women in rural areas of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces to treat hypermelanosis as well as sun protection. We conducted a phytochemical comparison of three species; (Schinz) Alston, Tul.

An Investigation into the Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Extracts of Stem Bark In Vivo.

The conventional use of medicinal plants is in part based on the widespread belief that plant crude extracts are non-toxic. In South Africa, traditional preparations of used to treat hypermelanosis have accordingly been regarded by many as non-toxic. Whether that is so impacts on the potential of bark extracts to be developed as a commercial drug to treathypermelanosis, given their documented capacity to inhibit tyrosinase activity.

Phytochemical Investigation and Biological Studies on Selected Species.

is the more recent name for the genus , which contains over 250 individual species of flowering plants in the family . Several species are used in folk medicine and have been reported to exhibit various biological activities. Although known to exhibit different terpenoids and flavonoids, the chemistry of the genus is not comprehensively studied due to the structural complexity of the compounds.

Characterization of Four New Compounds from Leaves and Their Tyrosinase Inhibitory Potential.

(king protea) is a flowering plant that belongs to the Proteaceae family. This multi-stemmed shrub is the national flower of South Africa and has important economic and medicinal values. Traditionally, the main therapeutic benefits of this plant species include the treatment of cancer, bladder, and kidney ailments.