Natural product chemistry is a branch of chemistry that deals with the isolation, purification, identification, structure elucidation and study of the chemical characteristics of chemical substances produced by living organisms and especially plants. The CSIR’s expertise in natural product chemistry is aimed at the discovery and development of botanical/herbal remedies and medicines, cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals and biologically active compounds from plants, micro-organisms and algae.

The organisation uses its natural product chemistry expertise in a project it is working on with Afriplex, a South African manufacturer of herbal, nutraceutical and healthcare products, to carry out biological evaluation studies on herbal extracts that may be beneficial in the management of colds and flu, allergies, male pattern baldness and hair loss.