A groundbreaking CPUT study has found that rooibos can improve liver function and protect it against oxidative damage.

The study was hosted by the Oxidative Stress Research Centre and led by Dr Wale Ajuwon.

The study showed that giving rats access to rooibos (instead of water) helped to protect the liver against structural, enzymatic and biochemical damage.

RESEARCHER: Dr Wale

“These findings provide biological evidence that rooibos can protect the liver and that it has the potential to be used as a supporting treatment for liver disorders,” he says.

Ajuwon says liver diseases and drug-induced liver injuries are a leading cause of death around the world, while synthetic drugs used to treat liver disorders often cause further damage to the liver.

“That is why it is so exciting to present this evidence that rooibos can be used as a liver protector and an adjuvant therapy for the treatment and management of liver disorders.”

The findings of the study have been published in the journal “Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine”.

The full scientific paper is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/984273

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Results from a clinical trial led by Dr Jeanine Marnewick of CPUT’s Oxidative Stress Research Centre show that Rooibos significantly reduces the risk of heart disease.

This conclusive evidence of the health-promoting properties of Rooibos in humans was presented to 150 members of the media, health sector and Rooibos industry at a Rooibos Science Café at the MTN ScienCentre on 26 November 2008.

Researchers traced the protective effect of Rooibos by looking at two important markers in the blood, as well as the oxidative status of the 40 adults who participated in the study. They found a significant decrease in conjugated dienes and malondialdehydes of 35% and 50% respectively – two blood markers that indicate oxidative damage – in the group that drank six cups of Rooibos per day for six weeks.

“This means that Rooibos may help to slow down atherosclerosis, or the hardening of arteries,"" explained Dr Marnewick.

On top of this, Rooibos also increased the levels of the body’s own “super anti-oxidant” called glutathione and helped to reduce the levels of “bad” LDL -cholesterol significantly.

“This is incredible news for Rooibos and the public,” said Mientjie Mouton, a director of the South African Rooibos Council. “We need scientific evidence to substantiate what we have always known – that Rooibos is good for you!”

Dr Marnewick also explained that they asked study participants for feedback on how they felt during the clinical trial. “Many of them reported feeling irritated during the washout period when they could not drink Rooibos, and much calmer once they were enjoying their six cups of Rooibos per day. That is why she will continue the clinical trial to look at the effect of Rooibos and stress.”

At the same Science Café Dr Carl Albrecht, head of Research at the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) gave an overview of nearly a decade of research at South Africa ’s Medical Research Council into the ability of Rooibos to prevent or slow down cancer. He also emphasised the importance of the ability of Rooibos to reduce oxidative stress in the body, as shown by the results of a study on rats, published in 2003.

“I am elated that Dr Marnewick and her team were now able to prove that Rooibos also has this effect in the human body,” he added. Oxidative stress plays a role in the development of a whole range of diseases, including cancer, stroke, heart and liver disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.

Another important milestone was the discovery, published in 2004, that Rooibos can prevent and slow down skin cancer in mice.

“The next challenge is to prove that Rooibos can also prevent cancer in people, and I believe that there is a good chance that we’ll be able to prove this,” Dr Albrecht said.

This Rooibos Science Café was organised by the South African Rooibos Council who invests in Rooibos research, along with funding partners such as South Africa ’s National Research Foundation as well as the Medical Research Council and CANSA.

Photograph: (left) Harvested Rooibos leaves (right) Dr Jeanine Marnewick of the CPUT Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Dr Carl Albrecht of the Cancer Association of South Africa

Information courtesy of Southern Science, South Africa Images courtesy of the South African Rooibos Council

Written by CPUT News

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Research activities at the Oxidative Stress Research Centre are set to be boosted after Professors Jacques van Rooyen and Johan Esterhuyse recently received a grant from The Southern African-Nordic Centre (SANORD).

SANORD is a partnership of higher education institutions from the Nordic countries and Southern Africa .

It was established in order to promote multilateral research cooperation on matters of importance to the development of both regions.

Annually, the centre awards grants to further activities conducted by research groups at institutions, based in Nordic countries and Southern Africa .

In March 2008, a call was made by SANORD for researchers to submit proposals for funding. Out of more than 22 applications, only 10 were selected for funding. This included the proposal submitted by the CPUT Professors.

This was the first CPUT research group to submit a proposal to SANORD.

Prof van Rooyen, who is involved in the Experimental Biology Thrust within the Oxidative Stress Research Centre said: “Our application was successful because this is a study with a sound scientific foundation that will investigate the issues surrounding heart disease and cancer treatment.”

The project will evaluate whether nutritional intervention could affect the cardiotoxic side effects induced by anthracyclines (drugs used during chemotherapy).

Prof van Rooyen said this study will investigate the protection offered by Red Palm Oil supplementation, an anti-oxidant rich oil, on heart tissue against harmful anthracyclines during chemotherapy.

He stated that a recent pilot study revealed and suggested protection.

The results of the pilot study were recently accepted and will be delivered at an international heart congress in France in May this year.

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board has also shown interest in this research project and indicated that they may fund the project.

He said the cost of such experimental research projects are high and that outside funding and collaboration with other researchers and institutions are vital to ensure the success of the project.

Prof Esterhuyse, who is the head of the Biomedical Technology Department, said they are collaborating with several research groups on anti-oxidant projects.

This includes the University of Szeged in Hungary , University of Bergen in Norway and University of Stellenbosch .

They are funded by the National Research Foundation for cooperation with the Hungarian group and also received a grant from the Norwegian government agency for cooperation with Bergen .

They will also collaborate with researchers based at the Medical Research Council in South Africa and researchers in Malaysia .

Currently they are in the process of setting up research collaborations with researchers at the Academy of Sciences in Prague , the Czeck Republic and Bratislava , Slovakia .

Prof Esterhuyse said they have also worked closely with other institutions in Norway on various academic projects and received funding for placement of undergraduatee students for experiential training at Bergen University College in 2008.

He said the SANORD grant is an extension of their activities with Nordic countries.

By Candes Keating

Photo: Prof Jacques van Rooyen, Dr Jeanine Marnewick and Prof Johan Esterhuyse of the CPUT Oxidative Stress Research Centre.

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT has almost completed the construction of the new laboratories and offices that will house the Oxidative Stress Research Centre at the institution’s Bellville Campus.

The construction of the new facilities marks the consolidation of the Centre’s Cape Town and Bellville groups.

The Oxidative Stress Research Centre is a multi-faculty initiative that aims to contribute to existing knowledge regarding the role of oxidative stress in health and disease through high-quality research.

It was founded in 2007 as a means to combine various research thrusts at CPUT including Experimental Biology Research, South African Medicinal Plant Research, Obesity and Chronic Diseases of Lifestyle Research, Bioorganics Research and Inorganics Research.

The idea to establish an Oxidative Stress Research Centre, which is the only one of its kind in the country, came about five years ago when Prof Ernest Truter and Prof Johan Esterhuyse identified the need to promote antioxidant research at CPUT. A proposal was submitted to Executive Management, who approved the formation of the Centre.

Remarking on how far the Centre has come, Prof Esterhuyse said, “This is like a dream come true for me. We are in need of an oxidative stress research centre in South Africa .”

Dr Jeanine Marnewick of the Health and Wellness Sciences Faculty joined CPUT in 2005 and is managing the Centre.

She started Rooibos research about 12 years ago at the Medical Research Council, looking at cancer prevention and chemoprevention through rooibos (a reddish coloured shrub whose dried leaves are used to make tea).

Recently, she completed the first ever human intervention trial at CPUT using this popular traditional South African herbal tea to determine whether Rooibos can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. The results of this study were presented at the second Rooibos Science Café held at the MTN ScieneCentre at Century City in November last year.

Currently, the Oxidative Stress Research Centre accommodates more than 35 postgraduate students at Masters and Doctoral level as well as postdoctoral fellows from the University of Mauritius and West India. These numbers are rapidly growing.

The Centre also offers a wide range of services including chemists, microbiologists, pharmacists, inorganic chemists, nutritionists, dieticians and biochemists.

Ultimately it is envisaged that this multidisciplinary approach to health promotion and disease prevention will become a niche area for oxidative stress research not only in South Africa but also in Africa.

By Andiswa Dantile

Written by CPUT News
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The new Research Chair of CPUT’s Institute of Biomedical and Microbial Biotechnology (IBMB) plans to take the institute to the next level over the next five years.

Prof Jeanine Marnewick is no stranger to the IBMB, having previously served as co-chair to Prof Wentzel Gelderblom.

Marnewick, who also heads up the Oxidative Stress Research Centre in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, made the headlines in 2011 when her clinical trial revealed that drinking six cups of rooibos per day holds definite health benefits, and specifically helps to reduce oxidative stress in the body and improves the cholesterol profile – all aspects that modulate the development of heart disease.

She said the Institute’s main focus this year would be a review process of the past five years and setting up a new five-year business plan. “The institute will be reviewed by international reviewers and with that, we will also devise the new business plan for the next five years. We have to see that the research we are doing is correctly focused. Apart from our own RTI (Research and Technology Innovation) blueprint, a big role player is the United Nations-driven sustainable development goals initiative. They recognise 17 goals that’s important for sustainability. We are aligning our research to these goals,” she said.

“I feel strongly that our research should be research that can be applied and not just research for the sake of doing research. Our communities have to benefit and that is our biggest driving force.”

The institute has six NRF-rated scientists, two of whom are B1 rated, and is encouraging all its researchers to obtain their rating, ensuring that postgraduate students have access to the best in the field.

“Our research output has also been very good over the past four years. We’ve had an average of about 20 journal articles per annum while conference attendance averaged about 15 national and 15 international conferences. We are always striving for a good balance, 1:1:1 between conferences and publications. We’ve grown international collaborations significantly, including with institutions in Hungary, France and Germany and the USA while we have established good relationships with local industry.”

For more on the IBMB go to http://www.cput.ac.za/research-technology-and-innovation/centres/ibmb

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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