Abstract
This contribution reports on the physical properties of the natural Namibian red Ochre used by the Himba Community in a form of a formulation, so called Otjize as a skin protective and beauty cream. The morphological and crystallographic studies of this red ochre validated its nano-scaled dominating phase of rhombohedral α-Fe2O3 nanocrystals with an additional hydrolized oxide component in a form of γ-FeOOH. The optical investigations showed that such a red ochre exhibits an exceptional UV filtration and a significant IR reflectivity substantiating its effectiveness as an effective UV-blocking & solar heat IR reflector in support of the low skin cancer rate within the Namibian Himba community. In addition, such nanocrystals exhibited a non-negligible antibacterial response against E. Coli & S. Aurus. This study seems confirming the effectiveness of the indigenous Otjize as an effective skin UV protection cream with a sound antimicrobial efficacy against e-Coli & S-Aurus.
Highlights
This contribution reports on the physical properties of the natural Namibian red Ochre used by the Himba Community in a form of a formulation, so called Otjize as a skin protective and beauty cream
As a major pre-conclusion of this study, it is worth pointing that the effective UV filtration of the red ochre used by the Himba Women could explain the low skin cancer within such a community in Namibia[45]
This study was geared towards the investigation of the bio-physical properties of Red Ochre pigment used by the Himba in their Otjize formulation to protect their skin from solar radiations
Summary
This contribution reports on the physical properties of the natural Namibian red Ochre used by the Himba Community in a form of a formulation, so called Otjize as a skin protective and beauty cream. The optical investigations showed that such a red ochre exhibits an exceptional UV filtration and a significant IR reflectivity substantiating its effectiveness as an effective UV-blocking & solar heat IR reflector in support of the low skin cancer rate within the Namibian Himba community. Such nanocrystals exhibited a non-negligible antibacterial response against E. The earliest evidence of the ochre pigment’s usage by ancient humans dates to the Paleolithic, about 285,000 years ago, at a Homo erectus site called GnJh-03 in Kenya In this location, archaeologists discovered about 70 pieces of ochre weighing about 5 kg[12]. About 266,000 years ago, early hominins at a site called Twin Rivers in Zambia collected a type of hematite ochre that has significantly reflective metallic flakes in it making it g littering[13–15]
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