The Tribune

A Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) professor has authored a research paper examining how medicinal plant extracts interact with enzymes linked to skin aging and pigmentation.

BAMSI, in a statement, said the work of Dr Waseem Ahmed, a professor and senior agriculturist in its School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is garnering international attention.

“These findings suggest that the two medicinal plants could provide natural compounds for future skincare products. The next step is to investigate how these compounds work and establish the concentrations at which they could be safe and effective for topical use,” Dr Ahmed said. 

Dr Ahmed is the first author of the paper, ‘Natural multi-target inhibitors from Adhatoda vasica and Calotropis procera for dermal regeneration’. The paper was published in The Science of Nature, an established, peer-reviewed international scientific journal.

The study examines extracts from Malabar nut (Adhatoda vasica) and apple of Sodom (Calotropis procera) to investigate their activity against enzymes involved in skin pigmentation and the breakdown of collagen and elastin. These are proteins that help give skin its strength and elasticity, Dr Ahmed explained.

Using advanced analytical techniques, the team identified naturally occurring compounds in the plants. Laboratory tests showed the extracts could inhibit several of these enzymes, suggesting potential applications in skin protection. The team also assessed the extracts’ effects on human skin cells grown in the laboratory.

BAMSI said the findings offer a foundation for further investigation, rather than establishing that the extracts are ready for use as skincare treatments.

“Further research into the safety, efficacy, optimum concentration and mode of action in relation to the compounds isolated from those specific plants could help to develop topical treatments,” Dr Ahmed said.

He added that the work opens possibilities beyond the two plants examined. Dr Ahmed said future research could investigate compounds from a wider range of medicinal plants for potential applications in skin health and other conditions.

That research direction, BAMSI added, could create opportunities for The Bahamas. Investigating local plant resources could bring together cultivation, laboratory analysis, student training and scientific collaboration, creating a foundation for the future development of natural products.

“What excites me is the possibility of turning our understanding of medicinal plants into something useful through careful scientific research. There is still much to investigate, but that process of discovery - and the opportunity to engage students in it - is what makes this work meaningful to me,” Dr Ahmed said.

Dr Raveenia Roberts-Hanna, BAMSI’s president, said: “We are proud of Dr Ahmed and the contribution he is making to scientific research. Publication in an established international journal brings his work to a global audience and reflects the depth of expertise we have at BAMSI.

“For our students, that expertise is part of their education. They learn from researchers who are contributing to their fields, and they have opportunities to connect what they study with practical investigation. That connection between teaching and research is central to developing the skills and ideas that can advance agriculture and marine science in The Bahamas.”

BAMSI said that, through its School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, it could help advance medicinal plant research through cultivation, laboratory analysis and scientific partnerships locally and internationally. This, it added, could support sustainable agriculture and strengthen The Bahamas’ capacity for high value natural product development.

The study was published on September 29, 2026, in Volume 113, Article 122 of The Science of Nature.