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20 September 2024 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied
zebrafish-blue-in-aquarium
Zebrafish blue in an aquarium.

A researcher from the University of the Free State (UFS) hopes to make living with epilepsy and other diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) easier by using South African plants extracts which may have anti-epileptic properties and testing them on zebrafish larvae.

Prof Anke Wilhelm, Associate Professor and Divisional Head of Organic Chemistry in the UFS Department of Chemistry, focuses her research on the isolation of active GABAergic compounds (substances that affect the brain’s GABA system, which helps control nervous system activity) by using a test that measures the movement of zebrafish larvae.

Even though obtaining regulatory approval for use as a treatment for epilepsy is a long and complex process, Prof Wilhelm hopes to contribute to the better pain management of people suffering from epilepsy and diseases of the CNS through an affordable alternative drug with less side effects.

The tests are done in a zebrafish bioassay (an analytical method to determine the potency of a substance by its effect on living animals) housed at the UFS’ Chemistry Department.

Why zebrafish larvae?

Prof Wilhelm, who is a National Research Foundation Y2-rated synthetic organic chemist, says zebrafish share about 70% of their genes with humans, and about 84% of human genes known to be associated with diseases have a counterpart in zebrafish. This makes them a valuable model for studying human biology and disease.

“Zebrafish are powerful tools for modelling a wide range of CNS diseases, contributing significantly to the understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of potential treatments,” she says. “Mood disorders, anxiety, insomnia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are all diseases which may be studied through this bioassay.”

She explains that the zebrafish larvae are studied seven days after fertilisation in their bioassay. The larvae are incubated with the specific plant extract at a certain (non-toxic) concentration for three hours. Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), a GABAA receptor antagonist that has been extensively used in rodent models for acute seizure and anxiety, is then administered to induce concentration-dependent seizures in the zebrafish larvae.

“GABA receptor antagonists are drugs that inhibit the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid, the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system,” Prof Wilhelm says. “A specialised infrared camera is then used to track the movement of the larvae inside a chamber. The data is then converted into a graph which shows the movement of each larva over 30 minutes.

“If lowering of movement is observed at a specific concentration it means that the plant extract may have the potential to be used as an epileptic drug, since it has the ability to counteract the induced seizure in the larvae. This bioassay is extremely useful in drug discovery and toxicity screening of plant extracts.”

Zebrafish embryos, she says, develop quickly, with major organs forming within 36 hours of fertilisation. This rapid development allows researchers to observe the effects of experiments in a short period. The maintenance of a zebrafish model is less costly and labour-intensive than using a rodent model. “The use of zebrafish larvae allows for high-throughput screening due to their small size and transparency, which facilitates observation of CNS-related effects. Their genetic and physiological similarities to humans make them a valuable model for early-stage drug discovery.”

Potential uses

The next step in the research, according to Prof Wilhelm, is to identify a single compound from a natural source which may have potential anti-epileptic activity while causing less side effects than current drugs on the market. Researchers would then investigate the possibility of synthesising such a compound on a large scale, to eliminate the use of a natural resource and promote sustainability.

“Many plant extracts which I have screened show a synergistic effect in the zebrafish bioassay, meaning that the extract or the combination of compounds shows potential, but the isolated compounds are inactive. Even if a plant extract shows promise in preclinical and early clinical studies, obtaining regulatory approval for use as a treatment for epilepsy is a long and complex process.

“This includes demonstrating consistent efficacy, safety, and quality in large-scale clinical trials. One of the major challenges in using plant extracts is the lack of standardisation. The concentration of active compounds in plant extracts can vary depending on factors like the plant's growing conditions, harvest time, and extraction methods. This variability makes it difficult to ensure consistent efficacy and safety, therefore this is a time-consuming process.”

Green chemistry

After being approached by Dr Glen Taylor, Senior Director of the UFS Directorate Research Development (DRD), in 2017, regarding funding for Noldus Daniovision equipment, Prof Wilhelm received training from Prof Matthias Hamburger of the University of Basel in Switzerland on how to use such equipment. The larval zebrafish locomotive bioassay was established at the UFS Chemistry Department during 2017 and 2018 and now provides a third-stream income for the department, in conjunction with the Department of Genetics, where the adult zebrafish are housed.

Prof Wilhelm’s other research interests include green chemistry, food sustainability, and recycling. She is looking into green extraction techniques using non-conventional extraction methods to recover valuable bioactive compounds from agricultural and food residues. “Techniques like ultrasound, microwave-assisted extraction, and the use of deep eutectic solvents are becoming popular for their efficiency and alignment with circular economy principles.”

News Archive

Parking at UFS for visitors
2007-11-10

UFS creates more parking for visitors

In its effort to make it easier for visitors to park on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein, two paid parking areas will be put into operation as from Monday, 5 November 2007.

These parking areas are part of a comprehensive new parking strategy of the UFS, which is being implemented since September 2007. As part of the strategy, areas of the central campus have been reserved for staff and visitors and hundreds of new parking areas were developed for students at the entrance in Wynand Mouton Avenue (at the Faculty of Health Sciences) and the entrance in DF Malherbe Avenue (at the Agriculture Building).

“The paid parking areas for visitors, which are as close as possible to the busy and largely closed-off central campus, were created as an additional service to visitors,” said Ms Edma Pelzer, Director of Physical Resources at the UFS.

According to Ms Pelzer, persons who attend meetings, seminars or short courses, visiting colleagues, consultants, service providers, family of students and staff members, clients, etc. can make use of this parking.

“We have found that it is often difficult for visitors to obtain parking in or close to the central campus. Now they will have a choice to either park in the visitors parking areas at a minimal fee or to park in any of the open unreserved parking areas on campus,” said Ms Pelzer.

The areas, which will be closed off behind booms on weekdays from 06:00 until 18:00, are situated to the eastern side of the “Red Square”, east of the CR Swart and Idalia Loots Buildings and west of Campus Avenue North between the Psychology and the Flippie Groenewoud Buildings.


Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za  
2 November 2007

Parking for visitors: Important notice:

As from Monday 5 November 2007 two paid parking areas on the UFS Campus will be put into operation. The areas will be closed off behind booms on weekdays from 06:00 until 18:00. These will be manned and R3 per hour will be charged.
 

The following areas are involved:

  • P3: The area to the east of the “Red Square”, east of the CR Swart and Idalia Loots Buildings.

     
  • P6: The area to the east of Campus Avenue North between the Psychology and Flippie Groenewoud Buildings.

    The friendly co-operation of users of motor vehicles on campus is requested to allow this implementation to proceed as smoothly as possible.

Parking for visitors: More information

The strategy to create paid parking areas for visitors

The decision to reserve areas in the central campus areas for the convenience of visitors was taken as part of the comprehensive new parking strategy of the UFS approved by the Executive Management in May 2007 and which is being implemented since September.

All visitors need not park in these areas. Visitors may park for free on any open (unreserved) parking bay on campus. These paid parking areas for visitors, as close as possible to the busy and largely closed-off central campus, have been created as an additional service to visitors.

The strategy to close off parts of the central campus for staff members and visitors was implemented after sufficient alternative parking areas had been developed for students.

What is meant by the term “visitors”?

It includes all persons who are not students of staff members of the UFS and who visit the campus for one reason or another. Persons who attend meetings, seminars or short courses, visiting colleagues, consultants, service providers, family of students and staff members, et cetera are included.

As at present, it will, of course, be possible to make special arrangements with Protection Services to make it possible for VIP visitors to park as near as possible to their destinations.

No student or staff member will be actively prevented from parking in the area. They will, however, be discouraged by the fact that R3 per hour will be charged without exception.

The visitors’ parking area and access to it

  • P3: The area to the east of the “Red Square”, east of the CR Swart and Idalia Loots Buildings. The area is within easy walking distance for visitors to, among others, the following buildings: George du Toit Administration Building, Theology Building, Idalia Loots Building, CR Swart Building, Johannes Brill Building, Van der Merwe Scholz Hall.

    The area is conveniently accessible from the following entrances: Nelson Mandela Drive, Groenewoud Street and Wynand Mouton Drive.

     
  • P6: The area to the west of Campus Avenue North, between the Psychology and Flippie Groenewoud Buildings. The area is within easy walking distance for visitors to all the academic buildings in the central campus, such as the Chemistry Building, Stef Coetzee Building, the Geography Building, et cetera and located directly opposite the general information point on the Thakaneng Bridge.

    The area is conveniently accessible from the following entrances: Fürstenburg Road and DF Malherbe Avenue (at the Agriculture Building).

     

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