Banele Ndlovu graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Faculty of Natural Science at UWC on Oct 9, 2026. Image: Shelley Christians/UWCUWC PhD graduate Doctor Banele Ndlovu explored the wound-healing and radioprotective potential of traditional medicinal plants, bringing indigenous knowledge and modern science together to address the side effects of cancer treatment.
Radiotherapy is an important weapon in the fight against cancer, but for many patients, the treatment comes with painful skin complications, including redness, burning, peeling and delayed wound healing. In severe cases, these side effects can force patients to pause their life-saving treatment.
Dr Ndlovu investigated whether indigenous South African medicinal plants could one day help protect skin cells against radiation damage and support the healing process.
Her doctoral research, titled The Wound-Healing and Radioprotective Potential of Indigenous Medicinal Plants on the Skin, examined three plants: Galenia africana, Tulbaghia violacea and Adansonia digitata (baobab).
Her interest in the research began during her honours studies in 2018, when she became aware of South Africa's rich biodiversity and the longstanding reliance on traditional medicinal plants.
“As I advanced in my scientific training, I noticed a distinct gap in the literature. While many indigenous plants have been studied for their general antimicrobial or antioxidant properties, few studies have used modern molecular approaches to address challenges such as radiation-induced skin damage,” she explained.
Image: Shelley Christians/UWCWorking under the supervision of Prof Farzana Fisher (Rahiman) and Dr Randall Fisher, Dr Ndlovu combined traditional knowledge with scientific evidence to identify the three plants. Interviews with Cape Bush Doctor traditional healers informed the selection of Galenia africana and Tulbaghia violacea, while a systematic review of existing research highlighted the potential of baobab.
In the laboratory, human skin cells, known as keratinocytes, were used to assess the safety and biological activity of the plant extracts before and after X-ray exposure. The research investigated oxidative stress, DNA and chromosomal damage, wound healing and gene expression.
The long-term ambition is to develop a plant-based topical product that could help protect patients' skin during radiotherapy. However, Dr Ndlovu emphasised that the research is still at an early stage and was conducted in vitro, meaning in a laboratory rather than in patients.
“Our findings suggested that these extracts could eventually be developed into a plant-based topical product to help protect patients' skin during radiotherapy. The cellular evidence supports moving towards a more natural preventative skin protection option for radiotherapy patients.”
Beyond its potential healthcare applications, she believes the research highlights an opportunity for South Africa to invest in its own biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
“Africa possesses extraordinary biodiversity, and traditional healers have essentially been conducting community-level observational trials for centuries. By investing in this research, we aren't just validating traditional medicine. We are driving active drug discovery, creating affordable and accessible healthcare solutions, and laying the groundwork for a locally sourced medicinal industry right here in South Africa.”
The researcher is equally passionate about ensuring that indigenous knowledge is respected and protected, and emphasised the importance of ethical research and clear benefit-sharing with the Khoisan and local communities who have preserved this knowledge across generations.
She cautioned patients against assuming that natural products are automatically safe, particularly during cancer treatment. “There is a big reason to be cautious. Natural does not automatically mean safe or harmless. Patients undergoing cancer therapy should always consult their oncologist or healthcare professional before using medicinal plants.”
Dr Ndlovu attended both Primary and High School in Dunoon, a Cape Town township, where humble beginnings laid the foundation for her later success. She began her PhD in 2024 and graduated in 2026. Among her proudest achievements is producing seven first-author publications since beginning her research journey in 2018. “I've worked with Professor Farzana Fisher (Rahiman) since my honours year in 2018, and under her guidance and leadership, I've produced seven first-author papers. Three of them were directly from my PhD work. ”
“To me, that proves that a research team right here at UWC can produce high-impact science at the intersection of traditional knowledge and modern radiobiology.”
