CPUT researchers are currently exploring whether Rooibos can play a preventative role in exercise-induced oxidative stress.

The study is the first of its kind and stems from a clinical trial led by Prof Jeanine Marnewick that found conclusive evidence of the health-promoting properties of Rooibos in humans.

EXPERTS: Prof Marnewick and her team of researchers at the Oxidative Stress Research Centre were visited by the SABC’s 50/50 team to report on the rooibos research done at CPUT.

Researchers traced the protective effect of Rooibos in adults who are at risk for heart disease. As part of the clinical trial, participants consumed six cups of Rooibos tea a day over six weeks. Results showed that the consumption of Rooibos decreased oxidative stress and cholesterol.

“Because of the results, we thought we would look at another population, not in terms of disease, but in terms of lifestyle,” said Prof Marnewick.

MONITOR: A researcher watches on as a participant completes an exercise.

The current study, which is being conducted in conjunction with Prof Simon Davies from the Sports Management Department, is looking at whether the intake of a Rooibos supplement can reduce oxidative stress that occurs during certain sporting activities.

Oxidative stress can be defined as an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of the oxidants. Free radicals are a good example of oxidants, as they are unstable molecules that can cause damage to important cell components, such as genetic material, lipids and proteins. One of the sources of free radicals in our body can include strenuous exercise when our cells use oxygen to produce energy

Research has found that oxidative stress plays a role in the development of a whole range of diseases, including cancer, stroke, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimers.

Prof Marnewick said although the body has its own anti-oxidant defense system, which combats the free radicals, it very often is not sufficient under certain conditions including strenuous physical activity.

The study will determine whether or not the intake of Rooibos, which contains a unique blend of anti-oxidants, can assist with combating the free radicals, in a bid to protect human cells.

Currently 44 male students are participating in the clinical trial, which are held at CPUT’s Human Performance Lab at the Mowbray Campus.

PREPARATION: Researchers prepare a participant for one of the exercises.

The trial sees students consuming Rooibos or placebo supplements, produced by CPUT, before participating in various exercises.

DEEP BREATH: Participants are closely monitored.

 “We draw blood before, during and after the exercise. This is to measure various biochemical parameters as well as monitor certain exercise performance outcomes” said Marnewick.

The trial, which started in May, will culminate in December. Thereafter the lab work will begin, with the results expected for release in 2012.

By Candes Keating

Photographs: Clive von Metzinger

Written by CPUT News
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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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Postdoctoral fellow Dr Naeem Sheik Abdul recently won first place in the science poster awards of the virtual Summer School on Innovative Approaches in Science.

The event focused on cutting-edge methods to reduce and replace animal tests in toxicology and biomedical research.

Sheik Abdul is a post-doctoral fellow at the Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute (AMHBI) under the supervision of Prof Jeanine Marnewick.

His winning e-poster was titled Fumonisin B1-Induced Mitochondrial Stress and Intervention by Rooibos: Old Foe New Hero.

“Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most food insecure regions where the majority of the population relies on maize as part of a staple diet. These commodities are often contaminated by fungal toxins such as Fumonisin B1 (FB1), which has been linked to cancer and other acute toxicities. Our study aims to assess the protective role of Rooibos extracts against FB1-induced toxicity in vitro using a liver derived cell line,” he said.

“Rooibos possesses a unique composite of phytochemicals known to encompass antioxidant and bio-active properties. The combination of metabolic activators and antioxidants found in Rooibos may be more effective in preventing and repairing cellular damage caused by toxins. The understanding of how molecular pathways are activated by Rooibos can contribute to the prevention of FB1 toxicity and can lead to the identification of a novel and economically viable approach to protecting vulnerable human populations against FB1 toxicity.”

Sheik Abdul said he did not expect the award but was extremely happy and felt a sense of pride knowing that research conducted at CPUT had been recognised on an international platform. 

The event was jointly hosted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing and the European Commission Joint Research Centre.

“Our study design fitted in well with the objectives of the summer school as it presented an excellent option to determine mitochondrial dysfunction without the use of animals while still maintaining its applicability to metabolic toxicity assessment and intervention approaches,” said Sheik Abdul.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Prof Jeanine Marnewick loves spreading the word about Rooibos and its health properties and her passion has earned her a nomination for a prestigious award.

Marnewick, Director of the Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute and Research Chair: Biotechnology, is in the running for the Communication Award of the National Science and Technology Foundation (NSTF)-South 32 Awards.

The awards were established in 1998 as a collaborative effort to recognise outstanding contributions to Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) and innovation by SET-related professionals and organisations in South Africa.

Marnewick was nominated and chosen as a finalist in the same category in 2018.

“Elucidating the health properties and substantiating health claims around Rooibos as well as disseminating these findings are the key objectives of our research. Rooibos, a proudly South African herbal tea now adopted under the Nagoya Protocol, serves as a complementary strategy to ensure increased daily intake of important bio-actives as a health promoting and/or disease preventing option,” she says.

She raises public awareness about her work mainly through print media, broadcast media and the Internet in addition to invited formal lectures, and public/lay presentations.

“Each of these communications ultimately have the purpose of informing the public, the consumer, and the industries of new contributions our research studies have made to the field. Accessibility is a critical factor in these communications and as such I avail myself to the media, and through the years I have built good relationships with various journalists and promotions/media companies.”

Marnewick believes that through effective communication, societies and local industries are benefiting from the research outcomes. She adds that for the consumer this means providing them with scientifically substantiated information to make a better-informed choice/decision about what consumer goods to buy that will contribute to their overall health.

For the industries the scientific outcomes and communications serve as value additions to their rooibos products, be it the farmer, the producers or the niche area such as beauty and health.

Asked about her career highlights, Marnewick said there had been many but in the communication environment it has “been the knowledge growth I have experienced over the past few years of the consumer and industry about the health promoting properties of Rooibos. This is a clear indication that the research we are doing is relevant and important to our communities and industries.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Rooibos is good for you.

This is the word being spread by Prof Jeanine Marnewick, who heads up the Oxidative Stress Research Unit at the CPUT.

Marnewick made history 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 lower the risk of heart disease.

She shared her findings with CPUT news:

Can you tell us more about your research on rooibos?

There are very few human studies currently available on rooibos to evaluate the health promoting effect of this proudly South African product, and we were the first to report the protective effect six cups of rooibos have on adults at risk for heart disease.

This study was the result of years of doing basic scientific research on rooibos, and thus for me personally a landmark in my career as a scientist. Subsequently, more scientists from across the world have reported on the health benefits of rooibos.

Apart from the scientific importance of this study, the evidence also serves to inform and educate the consumers of rooibos in our communities. Recently, news reported an increase in the popularity of rooibos across the world. For a scientist this means research coming full circle, from the test tube to influencing the community and the economy in some way or another.

What research projects are you currently focusing on?

As is the case in most scientific fields, results generate more questions and thus require more research to be done. This is exactly the case with rooibos and we are involved with a number of studies now ranging from basic research (investigating the bio-activities of the other indigenous herbal tea, Honeybush), to another clinical intervention study that is earmarked for the near future that will involve a multidisciplinary approach with both national and international collaborators.

What do you enjoy most about being a researcher?

Over the years as the emphasis of one’s work moves more towards management, I realized that the most enjoyable time I have had was as a young researcher with fellow students in the laboratory getting our hands dirty.

Now I am privileged to share my knowledge and expertise with my postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows I supervise, and there is nothing more heartwarming and rewarding for me to see them develop into a young researcher with a will to make the world a better place through their research.

What do you attribute your success to?

Very often the public has the perception of a scientist being a very lonely figure working behind closed doors. In my case it cannot be further from the truth, as looking back now on my career I realized that I have always been part of a team and associated myself with experts in the field in order to grow my own research network and team, and that is a great part of success. “No man is an island”. Of course personal attributes such as curiosity, patience, tenacity and having a strong work ethic are crucial for succeeding as a scientist.

Do you have any words of advice for the generation of women researchers behind you?

It is extremely important to have a very good foundation in science, thus from school focus on science and mathematics, know your field of science, become the expert, surround yourself with professionals in the scientific community.

As a woman you will be facing different challenges, tackle them head-on, do not compromise your own values, never lose your curiosity for science, be patient, hardworking and you will reap the rewards.

Remember the famous quote: “A woman is like a tea bag, you never know how strong it is until it is in hot water”. 

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

With millions of new cases of cancer reported each year, researchers across the globe are working tirelessly to develop new and smarter ways to fight cancer.

One such is CPUT’s Dr Stefan Abel, whose groundbreaking research in the field of chemoprevention has recently earned him a coveted National Research Foundation (NRF) rating. Abel is the latest researcher at CPUT to be awarded this accolade and joins a growing list of NRF rated researchers at the university.

Based in the Institute of Biomedical and Microbial Biotechnology, Abel currently heads the institute’s Chemoprevention Research Group, which is located at the Tygerberg Hospital. The group’s emphasizes of chemoprevention research focuses on South African herbal teas, such as rooibos, and dietary unsaturated fatty acids, such as omega-3, which can influence the physical and biological cellular responses that are significant during carcinogenesis (cancer development).

While cancer remains a daunting public health challenge, Abel says he has never regretted his decision to pursue this area of research.

His springboard into this field was in 1992 when he joined the Medical Research Council and was tasked with investigating the role of fatty acids in cancer development and chemopreventive properties of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).

More than two decades later, Abel has established himself as a leading researcher in his field, having published 34 scientific publications and four book chapters, along with 55 national conference presentations, close to 40 international conference presentations and numerous articles in local and internal magazines and specialized publications.

Abel says his research work is focused on characterizing the pattern of lipid alterations in cancer tissue, which creates an environment for the promotion and survival of cancer cells.

“The research I have conducted has provided further insight into the complex lipid alterations occurring in cancer development, with the aim of defining and optimising specific fatty acids to be used as chemopreventive agents,” he says.

Through dietary manipulation, which is largely based on specific fatty acids, such as omega-3, Abel and his team of researchers hope to stunt the growth of these cells.

“The link between nutrition and chemoprevention is of particular relevance, which is reflected by the inclusion of a nutritional aspect to my research focus, besides chemoprevention which it compliments. Therefore, my research activities have grown to reflect this by incorporating relevant studies with the aim to implement them in a chemoprevention strategy.”

Abel says the core research over the last eight years has remained the same, with the main objective to investigate the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in cancer development in humans, utilising animal cancer models and cell culture. Past research involved liver and colon cancer, while future studies will also include prostate cancer.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

If you do a Google search for “rooibos” and “Marnewick”, you get more than 9000 and that is no accident.

Professor Jeanine Marnewick, a researcher on the Bellville campus, has made a concerted effort to get the word out about the research she is doing into how rooibos is useful as a way to reduce and protect against the impact of non-communicable diseases because of the tea’s antioxidant activity.

That effort is not going unnoticed as she has just been nominated in the NSTF-South32 Awards category: Communication for Outreach and Creating Awareness of SET and Innovation (by a team or individual over the last 5 years).

The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) started the NSTF-South32 Awards 20 years ago as the country’s first science awards and it has grown into the NRF’s flagship event, sometimes referred to as the ‘Science Oscars’ of South Africa.
The Awards recognise excellence and outstanding contributions to science, engineering and technology and innovation in South Africa and prizes will be awarded on June 28 at a Gala Awards Dinner.

Recently appointed the research chair for CPUT’s Institute of Biomedical and Microbial Biotechnology, Marnewick also heads up the Oxidative Stress Research Centre in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Science.

This is the first time she has been nominated for an NSTF-South32 award, and this particular one is for science communication beyond academic writing.

“It’s not focusing on the academic work but more on my informing communities and the lay person about the outcomes of our research. That’s the big thing, the application of our research, because if no-one is going to tell the man on the street about our research how is anyone going to know about it?” asked Marnewick.
“I always tell people if you want me to be interested in your research, tell me the bottom line. In all my research I focus on getting to some type of application from it.

“We are government funded and we owe the public feedback on our research and we don’t always get to that lay feedback going back to the public.”
Working with The South African Rooibos Council and Cancer SA has given her a bigger platform to get the word out, but she urges any academic interested in publicising their work to the broader public to start by working through their existing channels, particularly using social media.

“I’ve also been invited to a couple of schools just to talk to them about our research and firstly make them aware about science,” she said.

Over the years Marnewick has noticed a decided “knowledge growth” in the public audience around the concept of antioxidants and sees this as a clue that repeated public communication around scientific concepts can be effective.

Marnewick says she can see the difference continual outreach has made, raising the example of a recent series of community talks she did.

Written by Theresa Smith
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Provides coverage for the Applied Sciences and Engineering Faculties and the Wellington Campus.