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UFS researcher investigates the potential of medicinal plants to treat Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases

21 June 2024 | Story André Damons | Photo Suplied

Dr Claudia Ntsapi — Dr Matlakala C Ntsapi is a Senior Lecturer and researcher in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences at the UFS.

A researcher from the University of the Free State (UFS) is investigating the potential benefits of medicinal plants as supplementary treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases.

The work of Dr Matlakala Claudia Ntsapi, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences at the UFS, focuses on preserving human brain health to delay or prevent age-related conditions.

According to her, while the primary focus is on age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s, the bioactive compounds in these medicinal plants may also have therapeutic potential for other neurological disorders, various types of cancers and Type 2 Diabetes. The broad protective effects of these plant-based bioactive compounds could make them relevant in the potential treatment of other diseases involving oxidative stress and inflammation.

She is involved in several multidisciplinary projects, collaborating with research experts from Denmark, the UK, and various national institutions such as the Central University of Technology (CUT), North West University (NWU), and the Stellenbosch University (SUN), as well as colleagues from the UFS.

The potential of medicinal plants

“In collaboration with experts from our institution, the CUT and SU, who have strong backgrounds in pharmacology and ethnobotany, we are focusing on underexplored medicinal plants and nutraceuticals. These plants contain bioactive compounds with potential neuroprotective properties, which are believed to provide extra health benefits beyond basic nutritional value,” says Dr Ntsapi.

“We hope that these medicinal plants have the potential to preserve cognitive function and slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Specifically, we aim to identify novel therapeutic targets and discover new avenues for intervention that can improve the quality of life for individuals affected by age-related brain conditions,” she says.

Identifying therapeutic targets and discovering new interventions

The bioactive compounds found in selective medicinal plants and nutraceuticals, explains Dr Ntsapi, serve as a promising source of ‘natural’ therapeutics that may be safer and have fewer side effects compared to conventional synthetic drugs. Additionally, the untapped potential of these compounds for neuroprotection and the preservation of brain health could provide innovative therapeutic solutions. These compounds may be used as complementary therapies to existing drugs, which often have limited efficacy on their own, thereby enhancing overall treatment outcomes for neurodegenerative diseases.

“By utilising cutting-edge techniques, such the innovative CelVivo ClinoStar 2 System, we strive to gain insights into the safety and efficacy of underexplored medicinal plants in preserving cognitive function and slowing disease progression.

“By exploring the untapped potential of bioactive compounds found in medicinal plants and nutraceuticals, our research group aims to contribute to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and the discovery of new avenues for intervention to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by age-related brain conditions,” says Dr Ntsapi.

The researchers, in collaboration with others in the UFS School of Clinical Medicine, will develop 3D cell-based models of the human cortex and hippocampus by utilising the CelVivo ClinoStar 2 System. This cutting-edge technology, housed in an easy-to-use CO² incubator, mimics ‘animal model-like’ conditions with low sheer stress, allowing scientists to generate cell-based models that closely resemble real-world conditions.

Dr Ntsapi explains that they will specifically focus on the technologies’ applications in studying age-related neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The potential impact of this research is immense, as it could contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for combating the debilitating progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and ultimately improving the quality of life for affected individuals.

Hope for the research

“Our hope for this research is to significantly advance our understanding of neurodegenerative disease progression and to develop novel therapeutic strategies that can effectively combat these debilitating conditions. Ultimately, we aim to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by neurodegenerative diseases by preserving cognitive function and slowing disease progression.

“This research will contribute to the knowledge pool in this field, with the potential to lead to groundbreaking discoveries in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other related disorders, potentially contributing to the policy guidelines on how these conditions are managed and treated,” she says.

The international partners from Denmark and the UK have made their expertise and facilities available to postgraduate students from the UFS, some of whom they are co-supervising.

Dr Ntsapi, who is passionate about exploring innovative solutions to address the gradual decline in normal brain function associated with aging, was this year one the university’s nominations for the prestigious 2023/2024 NSTF-South32 Awards, popularly known as the “Science Oscars” of South Africa.

News Archive

Workplace discrimination and unfair practices explored in new book

2017-09-13

Dr Denine Smit
Photo: Supplied

Two law scholars, Dr Denine Smit and Dr Damian Viviers, from the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently launched a book titled Vulnerable Employees, which was inspired by their interest in researching, creating awareness and providing a legal exposition in relation to employees who are vulnerable and experience prejudice and dignity violations in the workplace. These include workplace bullying, appearance-based discrimination, those who are gender fluid or have mental-health conditions.
“Dr Viviers, who is also a former student of mine, and I, have been working together for years and share a common understanding in relation to our various topics of interest. We often share the same train of thought. This is how we came to work together to produce this book,” said Dr Smit.

Research focused on employee challenges in the workplace
The book expands on the field of knowledge regarding certain categories of employees who, as a consequence of various mutable, immutable and semi-immutable characteristics, as well as behavioural experiences, are rendered vulnerable in their employment relationships. The book draws on various social, psychological and other empirical considerations, as well as comparative legal research from foreign and international law, in order to expand on the legal position under the South African legal framework governing these conditions. While the book first and foremost constitutes a compendium of research to be used for this purpose, it also serves as a practical guide for all legal practitioners, human resources managers, other labour stakeholders and the judiciary.

Book draws strength in other academic fields
Vulnerable Employees was launched on 28 July 2017 at the UFS library, to an audience of academics and students, with a panel discussion made up of the authors and two other panellists. One of the panellists was Dr Katinka Botha, a leading psychiatrist in the Free State who has a wealth of experience in this field. “Her selection as a panellist was motivated by the various significant inter-disciplinary considerations and intersections between psychology, psychiatry and law, contained in the book,” said Dr Smit.
“Dr Botha’s expertise was invaluable in shedding light on mental-health considerations during the panel discussion.”
Mr Lesley Mokgoro, the other panellist, is a leading labour law practitioner, as well as director and head of the Dispute Resolution Practice Group at Phatshoane Henney Attorneys. “His years of experience working with all role players in the employment domain, as well as his extensive legal knowledge and expertise, made him uniquely qualified to serve on the panel and deliver an opinion of the practical and academic value of the book,” said Dr Smit.

Workplace policies key to securing employee rights
There are a number of growing trends in the workplace that could shape the practice of labour law or workplace policies. Dr Smit said the need for employers to regulate workplace culture, particularly in relation to bullying, harassment and unfair discrimination, in line with the South African legal framework, was a fundamental need in all workplaces. Effective workplace policies may be used to clearly outline the relevant “dos and don’ts” to employees, as well as the procedures and processes that may be followed in order to address such conduct. Workplace policies serve to advance legal certainty and efficiency, since the rights and obligations of all role players are clearly demarcated, or should be, in terms of a well-drafted and considered policy.
The book is one of several publications produced by Dr Smit in collaboration with Dr Viviers on the topic of workplace discrimination and the law. The two scholars are working on another book to be published at the end of 2017.

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