Phytochemical and biological studies on some South African plants used in traditional medicine for skin hyperpigmentation.

Abstract

The regulation of the Western beauty care products is currently inadequate and a huge concern to consumers throughout the world, as most of the products manufactured by personal care industry are made of synthetic additives, while the traditional skin-care products are safe products made from natural elements. Usage of traditional medicinal plants is perceived as a superior alternative to achieve improvement of the gradually deteriorating standard of manufacturing beauty care products. Therefore, the present study assesses the suitability of several South African plant species conventionally used in traditional medicine for skin hyperpigmentation treatment. Ten plant species, viz. Cassine peragua, Cassipourea gummiflua, Clivia miniata, Cryptocarya myrtifolia, Gunnera perpensa, Kigelia africana, Protorhus longifolia, Rapanea melanophloeos, Rhynchosia villosa, and Senecio serratuloides were obtained after interviewing fifteen traditional healers within the Eastern Cape Province.