A Nigerian researcher based in South Africa, Olusola Ifedolapo Watti, has discovered that a local medicinal plant, Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis, may help with skin discoloration and high blood sugar, two common health challenges around the world.

The plant, also known as rhinoceros bush, has been used in South African traditional medicine to treat flu, stomach problems, and general illness. But until now, its full potential wasn’t known. Watti’s research, carried out at the University of the Western Cape, shows that this plant could also play a role in modern skincare and diabetes management.

To explore the plant’s properties, Watti and her team extracted natural substances from its leaves using a methanol solution. After a careful separation process, they identified six different compounds four of which had never been found in this plant before. One of the most interesting of these was apigenin, a compound that showed strong effects in two key areas.

“Apigenin blocked the activity of the enzyme tyrosinase, which controls melanin production in the skin,” Watti explained. “It worked even better than kojic acid, a common ingredient in many skin-lightening products, but without the harmful side effects.”

This matters because several widely used skin-lightening agents, like kojic acid and hydroquinone, have been linked to skin damage and are now banned in many countries. Natural and safer alternatives, like those found in rhinoceros bush, could offer new options for skincare without the same risks.

The research also looked at how the plant might help manage blood sugar levels. While the extracts didn’t have much effect on one enzyme involved in carbohydrate digestion (alpha-amylase), they did significantly slow down another enzyme called alpha-glucosidase, which also plays a big role in how the body breaks down sugar.

“Three different extracts from the plant, along with apigenin itself, showed strong alpha-glucosidase inhibition,” Watti said. “Apigenin even outperformed acarbose, a drug that doctors often prescribe for type 2 diabetes.”

This discovery brings attention back to the value of traditional medicine and the importance of researching plants that people have been using for generations. Watti believes that with more studies and testing, Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis could become useful in both medicine and skincare.

“This is just the beginning,” she said. “There’s so much more to learn about this plant and how it can benefit people in practical ways.”

This study is also the first to report the plant’s ability to block the tyrosinase enzyme, giving researchers and product developers a reason to keep exploring its potential.