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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

Kovsies triumph in Free State hockey
2014-08-05

During the first weekend of August 2014, the University of the Free State (UFS) was once again crowned as the Free State hockey champions.

In the finals of the Free State championships, the Kovsies’ women’s team beat the Reds (Kovsies 2nd team) by 10-1. This is the ninth consecutive year that our women’s team walk away as champions. It was clear from the start that Kovsies wouldn’t be satisfied by anything less than a win and a courageous Reds team was unable to cover all the gaps.

After being at the helm for three years, the Kovsies’ coach, Jacques du Toit, announced his retirement after the game. During his coaching term, Kovsies had their best performances since the 1984 season – when the Kovsie women won the University Sports South Africa (USSA) tournament.

Since 2012, the Kovsies’ women’s team went from strength to strength. For the first time since 1993, they ended among the top four teams in the USSA tournament that year. In the following year they repeated this performance and also achieved a bronze during the first Varsity Sport Hockey tournament for women.

Kovsies’ men’s hockey team was also crowned as champions in the Free State championships for the 12th consecutive year. We won against the Central University of Technology in the finals by 9-2. This year our team of champions also succeeded in breaking a medal drought of 30 years in the USSA tournament. We defeated the team from the University of Johannesburg to gain a bronze.

This year, Kovsies was also the only university that managed to win two medals at the USSA hockey tournament and can rightfully claim the title as best tertiary hockey club in the country.

 

Kovsies’ men’s team: Back, from the left are: Brad Hensberg, Rogan Jones, Mikhail Mannel, Egon van der Merwe, Stanley de Villiers,
Cheslyn Neethling, Michael Baiden, Richard Copley (physio) and Braam van Wyk (coach). Centre, from the left are: Darryl Sutherland,
Ian Finlay, Gerald van Blerk and Dylan Swanepoel (vice-capt). Front, from the left, are: Jaco Fourie, Qhayiya Jack, Berne Burger, Nazo
Mlakalaka, Kurt Hensberg, Lehan Bloemhoff and Ruan Kleinhans.

Kovsies’ women’s team: Back, from the left are: Madie Wessels, Izelle Lategan, Nisa van Zyl, Timon Botha, Jacques du Toit, Beatrix
Wesstdyk, Jacqie Ras, Jo Nelka Swanepoel and Lisa Hawker. Front, from the left are: Nicole Walraven, Tanya Britz, Line Malan (capt),
Minjon van Tonder (vice-capt), Kim Mentor, Inke Wolmarans and Cornelle Botha.

 

 

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