Table 1.
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.