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. 2012 Apr 24;2012:374017. doi: 10.1155/2012/374017

Table 1.

List of selected plants and their traditional uses.

Plants Common names Family name Medicinal use
Aloe aculeata Pole-Evans (Leaves) Ngopane Asphodelaceae Used as a skin lightening [19]
Aloe arborescens Mill. (Leaves) Ikalane/Umhlabana Asphodelaceae Leaf extracts have shown to have significant wound healing, antimicrobial, anti-ulcer and anticarcinogenic activity [14]
Aloe ferox Mill. (Leaves) Ikhala/Inhlaba Asphodelaceae Sap in the leaves used traditionally as laxatives and can be taken for arthritis [14]
Aloe pretoriensis Pole-Evans (Leaves) N/A Asphodelaceae Used as a skin lightening [19]
Aloe sessiliflora Pole-Evans (Leaves) N/A Asphodelaceae Used traditionally to treat the uterus and believed to promote menstruation [14]
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (Leaves) N/A Asphodelaceae The gel from leaves is used as a remedy for minor burns and scrapes and for sunburn [14]
Calodendrum capensis Thumb. (Leaves) Umbhaba Rutaceae Used as a facial mask [19]
Calodendrum capensis Thumb. (Bark) Umbhaba Rutaceae Used traditionally in soaps and as a skin-lightener as white umemezi [14]
Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh. (Leaves) Umgwenya Anacardiaceae Used as a face mask [19]
Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh. (Bark) Umgwenya Anacardiaceae Acne and eczema treatment, and is usually applied as facial saunas and skin washes [14]
Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. (Nuts) Morula Anacardiaceae Oil extracted from the kernels is Africa's greatest skin care oil and as a skin-lightener (personal communication) [14]
Ximenia americana L. (Nuts) Umthunduluka-obmvu Olacaceae Seeds contain valuable oil that is used traditionally to soothe leather and as cosmetic and skin ointment [14]

N/A Not available.