Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Centre, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa.
Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, North West Province, South Africa.
BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020 Mar 12;20(1):81. doi: 10.1186/s12906-020-2869-x.
Skin-related diseases affect every individual irrespective of age, gender or social status. Since time immemorial, humans have explored natural resources from their environment for the maintenance of the skin. This explorative survey was conducted to document the natural resources (plant and non-plant materials) used for folk cosmeceuticals by rural communities in Vhembe district municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa.
The research was conducted in six communities namely: Tshakuma, Shigalo, Tshamutilikwa, Luvhimbi (Masikhwa), Khakhanwa, and Folovhodwe in Vhembe district. Random and convenient sampling was used to access the target population. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to interview 71 participants that comprised traditional practitioners, herbalists and laypeople from the study area. Collected data were analysed using both quantitative (for e.g. frequency, use-value and relative frequency of citation) and qualitative (thematic) analytical methods.
A total of 52 plants from 27 families and 22 non-plant materials were used as folk cosmeceuticals in the study area. The most cited plants included Dicerocaryum zanguebarium (Pedaliaceae), Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) and Helinus integrifolius (Rhamnaceae). Trees and shrubs were the most common plant-life form while leaves were the most popular plant part. Pig fats, red ochre (Luvhundi soil) and ashes were the most cited non-plant materials. These documented natural resources are frequently prepared by crushing and mostly used to heal wounds.
Traditional knowledge concerning folk cosmeceuticals is mostly held by elders. The high number of natural resources documented is an indication that Vhembe district is rich in ethnopharmacological knowledge. Scientific investigation of the efficacies and safety of these natural resources is highly recommended as a drive aimed at innovations with benefits to the rural communities who are the custodians of this valuable knowledge.
皮肤相关疾病影响到每一个人，无论其年龄、性别或社会地位如何。自古以来，人类就一直在探索环境中的自然资源，以维护皮肤健康。本探索性调查旨在记录南非林波波省韦姆贝区农村社区用于民间化妆品的自然资源（植物和非植物材料）。
该研究在六个社区进行，分别是：Tshakuma、Shigalo、Tshamutilikwa、Luvhimbi（Masikhwa）、Khakhanwa 和 Folovhodwe。采用随机和便利抽样法接触目标人群。采用半结构化问卷对来自研究区域的传统从业者、草药医生和非专业人士进行访谈，共采访了 71 人。收集的数据采用定量（例如，频率、使用价值和引用相对频率）和定性（主题）分析方法进行分析。
在研究区域，共有 52 种植物（来自 27 科）和 22 种非植物材料被用作民间化妆品。被引用最多的植物包括 Dicerocaryum zanguebarium（卫矛科）、Ricinus communis（大戟科）和 Helinus integrifolius（鼠李科）。树木和灌木是最常见的植物生活型，而叶子是最受欢迎的植物部分。猪油、红赭石（Luvhundi 土壤）和灰烬是非植物材料中最常被引用的。这些记录的自然资源经常被粉碎后用于治疗伤口。
民间化妆品的传统知识主要由老年人掌握。记录的自然资源数量众多，表明韦姆贝区拥有丰富的民族药理学知识。强烈建议对这些自然资源的功效和安全性进行科学研究，以推动创新，造福于作为这些宝贵知识守护者的农村社区。
