Published February 10, 2022
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From Himba indigenous knowledge to engineered Fe2O3 UV-blocking green nanocosmetics.

Creators

  • 1. College of Graduate Studies, UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, Muckleneuk Ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa. havengads@gmail.com.
  • 2. Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West, Western Cape 7129, PO Box 722, Johannesburg, South Africa. havengads@gmail.com.
  • 3. Department of Anthropology & Archaeology, College Human Sciences University of South Africa, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa. havengads@gmail.com.
  • 4. College of Graduate Studies, UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, Muckleneuk Ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa.
  • 5. Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West, Western Cape 7129, PO Box 722, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • 6. Department of Anthropology & Archaeology, College Human Sciences University of South Africa, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa.
  • 7. Physics Dept, University of Le Mans, Le Maine, France.
  • 8. College of Graduate Studies, UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, Muckleneuk Ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa. Maazam@unisa.ac.za.
  • 9. Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West, Western Cape 7129, PO Box 722, Johannesburg, South Africa. Maazam@unisa.ac.za.

Description

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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