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PhD study investigates cannabis as potential cancer treatment

12 December 2024 | Story André Damons | Photo André Damons

A lecturer and researcher from the University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Pharmacology hopes her research into the use of cannabis in reversing anticancer drug resistance is a step forward into treating various cancers especially in Southern Africa.

Dr Innocensia Mangoato graduated on Tuesday (10 December 2024) with the degree Doctor of Philosophy with specialisation in pharmacology at the Faculty of Health Sciences’ December graduation ceremony. She started her career as a research scientist in the area of African traditional medicines in 2018 and her research received both national and international recognition.

“It’s an amazing (feeling to graduate today). My PhD journey was smooth and beautiful and with mentorship of Prof (Motlalepula) Matsabisa, who groomed me well, I did not shed a tear,” said Dr Mangoato. Dr Gudrun S Ulrich-Merzenich from the University of Bonn in Germany, was her co-supervisor with Prof Matsabisa.

According to the graduation programme, Dr Mangoato, Lecturer and Researcher in the UFS Department of Pharmacology, with her thesis titled Investigating the anticancer and possible resistant reversal effects of cannabis sativa l. extracts in cervical cancer cell lines and modulation of ABC transporters comprehensively explored the therapeutic potential of Cannabis sativa L. in overcoming drug resistance in cervical cancer using in vitro and network pharmacology approaches.

A step forward for treating various cancers

The research looked at the chemical fingerprints and pharmacological targets of C. sativa L. extracts, highlighting its antiproliferative properties against normal non-cancerous cells, cervical cancer cells and the cisplatin-resistant cervical cancer cells. Through PCR analysis, distinct gene expression profiles were identified, revealing the potential effects of combination treatments to counteract cisplatin resistance by downregulating genes associated with drug transporters and crucial signalling pathways. This work provides valuable insights into innovative therapeutic strategies for improving cervical cancer treatment, highlighting new avenues for overcoming resistance and enhancing treatment efficacy though the possible use of plant extracts.

“I hope my research takes a step forward in treating various cancers – especially gynaecology cancers in the Southern Hemisphere in Africa. Hopefully the research can later transcend into clinical trials and hopefully influence more policymakers. We also hope to further develop cannabis to be used as an adjuvant therapy for those drugs that are failing to treat cancer,” says Dr Mangoato, who was the recipient of the Women in Science Master’s Student in 2018.

Her graduation was also a proud moment for Prof Matsabisa, an expert in traditional African medicine, who was like a father to her during her studies. “Prof identified me from my honours degree and walked this journey with me. He has been a great mentor, a father and an amazing supervisor.”

Dr Mangoato says she will for now focus on research only and helping and monitoring upcoming researchers, especially female researchers as there is a scarcity of them her field.

News Archive

Statement regarding pulping of books by the UFS Sasol Library

2017-12-07

With reference to reports in the media and social media since 5 December 2017 about the pulping of books by the UFS Sasol Library, the executive management of the University of the Free State (UFS) would like to put the matter into perspective.

The book collection of the library is governed by a Library Committee of Senate, and no books can be removed from the library without formal approval from the committee. The university values the wealth of knowledge preserved in the library, and will not act irresponsibly with its collection.

Although the executive management takes note of the comments of some concerned organisations and members of the public in the media and social media the past couple of days, no books were removed from the library and sent to be pulped – only bound journals of which the university has online versions. These are journals that have been removed from the journal section for quite some time, and have not been used for a considerable number of years.

The decision to reduce the size of the collection to at least 35%, and to secure remote storage in close proximity of the library in Bloemfontein for some of the collections, was taken after a thorough external review of the library in 2014 as well as a gap review this year.

Two aspects were actioned after the review: books which have not been used at all in the past 20 years were moved to a storeroom in the library; journals removed from the journal section which have not been used actively for quite some time and which are not available online or cannot be found elsewhere through any means, will be moved to a remote storage in Bloemfontein and be retrieved as the need arises.

The only journals sent for pulping were those readily available online through current subscriptions, journals that the library is not subscribed to but are freely available online, journals that have since become Open Access Journals, magazines that have popular titles and are of no academic value, annual reports of societies and associations, and some abstracts. Thorough and responsible evaluation of these bound journals was done before they were sent for pulping.

The move of the books to a store room in the library and the removal of the bound journals will provide space to implement recommendations by the task team assigned by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, to investigate repurposing the library into a world-class, state-of-the-art library where physical and virtual space is created to support multi-purpose learning spaces for students, collaborative and group learning, and providing space for more innovation in the library through technology, thus enhancing the overall student and user experience.

Released by:
Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email: news@ufs.ac.za | loaderl@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 51 444 6393

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