Botanicals used for cosmetic purposes by Xhosa women in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Abstract

Despite the rich history of traditional medicine and biodiversity in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, few studies exist with regard to the use on traditional medicinal plants for cosmetic purposes. Thus, this study explored the indigenous knowledge of traditional cosmetic plants used by the Xhosa women of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. An ethnobotanical survey using semi-structured questionnaires was used to document the indigenous knowledge held by Xhosa women of the Eastern Cape Province on herbal cosmetics. Eighty-eight participants were interviewed from October to November 2017, and August 2018 through non-probability convenience and purposive sampling methods. A total of 16 plants belonging to 14 families were recorded as indicated by the 88 Xhosa women aged from 16 to 85 years. Cassipourea flanaganii had the highest frequency of citation while Hypoxis hemerocallidea had the highest use value. Documented plant parts included the bark (25%), bulb (16.67%), fruit (13.54%), seeds (6.25%), leaves (15.63%) and tubers (14.58%). The cosmetic preparations were mostly prepared through maceration, crushing and infusion. These preparations were predominantly applied topically while a few were taken orally. The local cosmetic applications of the plants included uses for changing skin complexion, sunlight protection, treating pimples and body rashes, removing spots, making skin soft, treating sunburns, making skin smooth and maintaining a healthy skin. Skin complexion recorded the highest citation frequency. Medicinal plants still play a major role in the local cosmetics industry of the Xhosa community in the Eastern Cape. As a result, their sustainable utilization should be encouraged. There is also need for more studies to compliment and validate the in vitro and in vivo cosmetic potential of the plant extracts.