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Havenga D, Akoba R, Menzi L, Azizi S, Sackey J, Swanepoel N, Gibaud A, Maaza M. From Himba indigenous knowledge to engineered Fe 2O 3 UV-blocking green nanocosmetics. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2259. [PMID: 35145113 PMCID: PMC8831563 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04663-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This contribution reports on the physical properties of the natural Namibian red Ochre used by the Himba Community in a form of a formulation, so called Otjize as a skin protective and beauty cream. The morphological and crystallographic studies of this red ochre validated its nano-scaled dominating phase of rhombohedral α-Fe2O3 nanocrystals with an additional hydrolized oxide component in a form of γ-FeOOH. The optical investigations showed that such a red ochre exhibits an exceptional UV filtration and a significant IR reflectivity substantiating its effectiveness as an effective UV-blocking & solar heat IR reflector in support of the low skin cancer rate within the Namibian Himba community. In addition, such nanocrystals exhibited a non-negligible antibacterial response against E. Coli & S. Aurus. This study seems confirming the effectiveness of the indigenous Otjize as an effective skin UV protection cream with a sound antimicrobial efficacy against e-Coli & S-Aurus.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Havenga
- College of Graduate Studies, UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, Muckleneuk Ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa. .,Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West, Western Cape 7129, PO Box 722, Johannesburg, South Africa. .,Department of Anthropology & Archaeology, College Human Sciences University of South Africa, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - R Akoba
- College of Graduate Studies, UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, Muckleneuk Ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa.,Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West, Western Cape 7129, PO Box 722, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - L Menzi
- College of Graduate Studies, UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, Muckleneuk Ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa.,Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West, Western Cape 7129, PO Box 722, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - S Azizi
- College of Graduate Studies, UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, Muckleneuk Ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa.,Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West, Western Cape 7129, PO Box 722, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - J Sackey
- College of Graduate Studies, UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, Muckleneuk Ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa.,Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West, Western Cape 7129, PO Box 722, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - N Swanepoel
- Department of Anthropology & Archaeology, College Human Sciences University of South Africa, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - A Gibaud
- College of Graduate Studies, UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, Muckleneuk Ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa.,Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West, Western Cape 7129, PO Box 722, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Physics Dept, University of Le Mans, Le Maine, France
| | - M Maaza
- College of Graduate Studies, UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, Muckleneuk Ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa. .,Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West, Western Cape 7129, PO Box 722, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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