Thilivhali Emmanuel Tshikalange (center) with his students during a field visit to a traditional healer’s home. Photo Credit: Thilivhali Emmanuel Tshikalange
When I look back on the start of my scientific journey, I do not picture a laboratory. I see the small kitchen of my childhood home in Duthuni village, Limpopo Province, South Africa.
I first encountered the power of medicinal plants at home. Annual tonsillitis was treated by my mother, who boiled the bark of Sclerocarya birrea (Mufula) for me to drink. Within days, I would feel better. Branches of Lippia javanica (Musudzungwane) were used to repel mosquitoes. When I got cuts or knee injuries from playing, she would use plant-based preparations, even burning leaves or bark to rub on the wounds. It was painful in the moment, but after a few days, I would recover.
These experiences sparked an interest that would later guide my career. During my postgraduate studies, I could see how my environment had shaped the path I took.
At the University of Venda, I majored in botany and zoology, driven by a desire to uncover the biology behind traditional plant use. A third-year National Research Foundation bursary gave me my first research opportunity. I investigated the toxicity of Ricinus communis (Mupfure) seeds and Dichrostachys cinerea (Murenzhe) in pregnant rats. These plants were traditionally used to induce abortion.
That project made me question the boundaries between traditional practices and biomedical safety. During my honours studies at the University of Pretoria, a story from my village deepened my interest. Men were dying after sleeping with women who had recently undergone traditional abortions. It was a mix of folklore and observable health outcomes, and it became my next research question.
For my master’s and PhD, I focused on medicinal plants used to treat sexually transmitted diseases. My work required close collaboration with traditional healers, Izinyangas, and Sangomas, and taught me the importance of trust, respect, and ethical research practices. Many healers asked what I would do with their knowledge, and some feared exploitation. We formalise agreements so that communities benefit from any discoveries.
One plant, Casin transvaalensis (Mukubazui), fascinated me for its use in treating STDs and inflammation. Laboratory tests confirmed its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and showed moderate inhibition of HIV reverse transcriptase, validating traditional applications. In many communities, plants are combined to treat ailments. A single plant might be toxic, but combinations can counteract that effect. Seeing these synergistic interactions firsthand highlighted how indigenous knowledge complements scientific research.
Mentorship has been central to my career. From honors to PhD, my supervisors taught me laboratory techniques, experimental design, and scientific writing. I also emphasise recognition for traditional healers. We include their names in publications1 and ensure communities benefit.
For young African researchers, my advice is simple. Plants are essential to life. Investigate them, validate traditional uses, and understand their potential.
Now an associate professor of botany at the University of South Africa (UNISA), I continue to study Africa’s medicinal flora, focusing on plants that show promise in fighting microbial infections and inflammation. I see my journey as a full circle, from the bark my mother once boiled to the bioactive compounds I now analyse in the laboratory. I want my students to see science as something rooted in our communities. When they connect culture and curiosity, innovation follows.
