Melianthus or Honey Flower

alternative cosmetic and health ingredient

Melianthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melianthaceae, native to southern Africa. These plants are characterised by their distinctive pinnately compound leaves and unusual bell-shaped flowers, which range in colour from reddish-brown to yellow. Melianthus species have long been used in traditional African medicine, with various parts of the plant being employed to treat a range of ailments, including respiratory problems, skin conditions and digestive issues (van Wyk & Gericke, 2000; Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962). Recent scientific research has also investigated the potential therapeutic properties of Melianthus, suggesting that the plants may have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, though more studies are needed to fully understand their pharmacological potential (Adamu et al., 2005; Otang et al., 2012). Additionally, some Melianthus species have been explored for their possible use as ornamental plants and potential applications in phytoremediation (Pondani et al., 2018; Muthukrishnan et al., 2021).

References:

van Wyk, B. E., & Gericke, N. (2000). People’s plants: A guide to useful plants of Southern Africa. Briza Publications.

Watt, J. M., & Breyer-Brandwijk, M. G. (1962). The medicinal and poisonous plants of southern and eastern Africa. E. & S. Livingstone.

Adamu, H. M., Abayeh, O. J., Agho, M. O., Abdullahi, A. L., Uba, A., Dukku, H. U., & Wufem, B. M. (2005). An ethnobotanical survey of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Annals of Biological Research, 16(3), 6-13.

Otang, W. M., Grierson, D. S., & Ndip, R. N. (2012). Phytochemical studies and antioxidant activity of two South African medicinal plants traditionally used for the management of opportunistic fungal infections in HIV/AIDS patients. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12(1), 1-7.

Pondani, C. T., Sefu, G. T., & Ilunga, K. (2018). Phytoremediation potential of Melianthus major L. for the removal of heavy metals from mine tailings. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 10, 34-42.

Muthukrishnan, S., Sarin, N. B., & Srivastava, A. K. (2021). Phytoremediation of heavy metals by Melianthus major L.: A greenhouse and field study. Environmental Pollution, 269, 116157.Links: