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14 May 2019 | Story Thabo Kessah | Photo Tsepo Moeketsi
Prof Ashafa
Prof Ashafa’s research documents plants used by the Basotho in the management of different ailments.

The Phytomedicine and Phytopharmacology Research Programme (PPRP) in the Department of Plant Sciences on the Qwaqwa Campus researches the biological effects of medicinal plants used in the folkloric medicine of the Eastern Free State, particularly to explore the values and contribution of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) towards broader scientific research. This is according to the programme’s principal investigator and researcher, NRF C2-rated researcher, Professor Anofi Ashafa. 

 “Our research is mainly aimed at documenting plants used by the Basotho in the management of different ailments and to further discover, isolate, and purify active phytoconstituents that are responsible for disease curation or amelioration, thereby assisting in the global promotion of accessible and affordable medication in developing countries,” said Prof Ashafa. 

Since 2012, the PPRP has worked extensively on Basotho medicinal plants (BMP) used as antimicrobials, antioxidants, antidiabetics, antitubercular, anticancer, anthelmintic, and antidiarrheal agents, starting from biological activities up to the  evaluation of the toxicity of these plants for the kidney, liver, and heart functions in order to establish safe dosage parameters. These activities have led to the discovery of four potent antidiabetic biomolecules that are awaiting the processes of patency and commercialisation. Additional outputs include 104 published peer-reviewed articles , 7 postdoctoral fellows, 6 PhDs, 9 master’s, and 16 honours graduates. 

“Our research informs teaching and the development of expertise in ethnobotany, 
phytomedicine, and phytopharmacology in order to contribute to the National Development Plan (NDP) through human capacity development, skills, and knowledge transfer.

The group is also investigating some medicinal plants on the endangered red list of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), through micropropagation and field trials as well as proposing conservation strategies to preserve these valuable species.

The PPRP consists of postdoctoral fellows, PhD, master’s, and honours students and research is done in collaboration with several local and international universities as well as the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa. 


News Archive

Handing-over of the Centenary Edition of the Journal for Juridical Science
2005-08-18

On 13 June 2005 the editor of the Journal for Juridical Science (JJS), Prof Charles Ngwena, and the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof Johan Henning, handed over the Centenary Edition of the Journal to the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie.

The Journal of Juridical Science has published original accredited jurisprudential research articles in both English and Afrikaans since 1976.  The Centenary Edition of the Journal (which was published so as to coincide with the University’s centenary celebrations) comprises publications contributed mainly by staff of the Faculty of Law as well as of the Centre for Accounting.  This special edition includes, inter alia, the inaugural lecture of the Honourable Judge of Appeal Joos Hefer (following his appointment as the first honorary professor of Private Law at the UFS) entitled “Billikheid in die Kontraktereg” (Equity in the Law of Contract) and an article comprising a comprehensive review of the history of the Faculty of Law co-authored by Professors JJ Henning, HA Wessels and Adv JH de Bruin (all members of the Department of Roman Law, Legal History and Comparative Law).

The year 2005 marks the 30th year of publication of the JJS.  Two or three editions are published annually (depending on the prevailing circumstances), and each edition comprises 200 – 220 pages.
 

Prof. Charles Ngwena, left, handed a copy of the Centenary Edition of the Journal for Juridical Science to the Rector, prof. Frederick Fourie. With them is prof. Johan Henning.
 

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