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Volume 27
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10.3390/ijms27156815
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Article

Evaluation of the Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Activity of a Cannabis sativa-Infused African Product Used for Wound Healing

by
Siboniso Sithole
1,*,
Xolani Shezi
2,
Mlondolo Mavundla
1,
Carl Mateta
3,
Sphamandla Hlatshwayo
1,
Sanele Mhlungu
1,
Nokukhanya Thembane
1,4,
Phumzile Afrika
1,
Sibusiso Senzani
5,
Exnevia Gomo
6,
Nceba Gqaleni
1,7 and
Mlungisi Ngcobo
1,*
1
Sub-Discipline of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
2
Independent Researcher, Richmond 3780, South Africa
3
National Institute of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare P.O. Box CY 1122, Zimbabwe
4
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Applied and Health Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban 4026, South Africa
5
Discipline of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa
6
Medical Laboratory Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare P.O. Box MP 167, Zimbabwe
7
Africa Health Research Institute, 3rd Floor K-RITH Tower Building, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, Durban 4001, South Africa
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(15), 6815; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156815
Submission received: 15 May 2026 / Revised: 10 June 2026 / Accepted: 17 June 2026 / Published: 29 July 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Potential Anti-Inflammatory or Anti-Oxidative Mechanisms)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Product Shezi (PS) is a polyherbal African traditional medicine (ATM) formulated from six known South African medicinal plants and is used for treating cutaneous wounds. However, its ethnopharmacological properties have not been scientifically validated. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities of PS in vitro. Aqueous and methanolic extracts were prepared and qualitatively screened for phytochemical constituents. Cytotoxicity in fibroblasts and macrophages was assessed using an ATP-based viability assay. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress model. Anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages were measured using the Griess reagent system, a human prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) ELISA, and a bovine serum albumin (BSA) anti-denaturation assay. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by twofold serial broth microdilution, agar well diffusion, and a crystal violet biofilm assay. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, and steroids. PS exhibited IC10 values of 3 and 10 μg/mL in fibroblasts and macrophages, respectively. PS (1–5 μg/mL) showed 70% DPPH scavenging potential and potent H2O2 cytoprotection (p < 0.001). Nitric oxide inhibition was non-significant (p > 0.05) whilst PGE2 decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to LPS-stimulated cells. BSA denaturation was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis were the only microorganisms susceptible to PS (MIC 650–5000 μg/mL) with low SI (SI ≈ 0.05–0.06), while others were resistant. PS showed no antibiofilm activity (crystal-violet assay). Overall, PS demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and selective antibacterial effects against planktonic bacteria in vitro. However, further optimization of extraction methods, detailed mechanistic studies, and in vivo investigations are warranted to substantiate therapeutic relevance.
Keywords: wound healing; African traditional medicine; anti-inflammation; antioxidant; antimicrobial; KwaZulu-Natal wound healing; African traditional medicine; anti-inflammation; antioxidant; antimicrobial; KwaZulu-Natal

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Sithole, S.; Shezi, X.; Mavundla, M.; Mateta, C.; Hlatshwayo, S.; Mhlungu, S.; Thembane, N.; Afrika, P.; Senzani, S.; Gomo, E.; et al. Evaluation of the Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Activity of a Cannabis sativa-Infused African Product Used for Wound Healing. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27, 6815. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156815

AMA Style

Sithole S, Shezi X, Mavundla M, Mateta C, Hlatshwayo S, Mhlungu S, Thembane N, Afrika P, Senzani S, Gomo E, et al. Evaluation of the Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Activity of a Cannabis sativa-Infused African Product Used for Wound Healing. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026; 27(15):6815. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156815

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sithole, Siboniso, Xolani Shezi, Mlondolo Mavundla, Carl Mateta, Sphamandla Hlatshwayo, Sanele Mhlungu, Nokukhanya Thembane, Phumzile Afrika, Sibusiso Senzani, Exnevia Gomo, and et al. 2026. "Evaluation of the Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Activity of a Cannabis sativa-Infused African Product Used for Wound Healing" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, no. 15: 6815. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156815

APA Style

Sithole, S., Shezi, X., Mavundla, M., Mateta, C., Hlatshwayo, S., Mhlungu, S., Thembane, N., Afrika, P., Senzani, S., Gomo, E., Gqaleni, N., & Ngcobo, M. (2026). Evaluation of the Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Activity of a Cannabis sativa-Infused African Product Used for Wound Healing. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(15), 6815. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156815

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