Tapping healing powers of plants
A NELSON Mandela Metropolitan University academic is testing the medicinal properties of plants from around the world, including Romania, Egypt and Nigeria, screening mainly for anti-diabetic, anticancer and anti-HIV/Aids activity – with positive results.
Biochemistry associate professor Maryna van de Venter has spent the past 15 years helping to take NMMU to the forefront of medicinal plant research in South Africa, particular in the complex field of anti-diabetic research.
Her expertise is sought by universities across the globe.
“We have very good screening in vitro [in test tubes] for anti-diabetic activity,” Van de Venter said.
“Diabetes is so complicated, but we’ve been optimising our system for 15 years.”
All her research is conducted in vitro, and uses laserbased instruments to monitor the “mechanism of action” occurring in samples.
She collaborates with a number of different researchers and departments, including pharmacy, microbiology and chemistry.
Lately, Van de Venter has also been testing for “neuro protection activity” in plants, which could potentially be used in the fight against Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, motor neuron disease and other diseases affecting the brain.
She is pioneering South African research into the medicinal qualities of mushrooms.
Van de Venter also works closely with the country’s traditional healers, and has been testing the medicinal properties of a number of plants used in traditional medicine.
Partnering with the horticulturist responsible for NMMU’s gardens, Elana Storm, she has been instrumental in setting up a medicinal garden at NMMU’s Missionvale campus, where traditional healers can grow their own plants.
They also participate in regular workshops run by Van de Venter and her postgraduate students – arranged via three national traditional healers’ associations – to facilitate the sharing of information.
“We work on plants that have been published in books already, as traditional healers won’t tell you what they use,” she said.
“We have done a lot of work on the African potato, as this is most commonly used in traditional medicine . . . We have found there are quite significant differences between the different species.
“People use the plant to treat cancer, but one species actually stimulated cancer cell growth.”
She shares her results with healers at the workshops.
“We also try to explain our view of certain diseases, and the Western way of diagnosing and treating.
“Sometimes they will tell you how they diagnose and treat. It’s a voluntary exchange of information.”
Regarding her work on the plants of other countries, Van de Venter said: “We work a lot on Nigerian plants, in collaboration with the University of Lagos.”
She has also tested Romanian plants for anti-cancer activity, and plants from Egypt for anti-diabetic activities.