HEALTH
PROPERTIES OF ROOIBOS More than just tea By Jeanine Marnewick
J
eanine Marnewick is a professor and
but now we have exciting new products
head of the Oxidative Stress Research
such as ice teas, jams, soups, marinades,
Centre at Cape Peninsula University
beers, wines, liqueurs, even an espresso
of Technology. She obtained MSc (Medical
and a whole range of skin-care products
virology) cum laude degree from University
containing Rooibos, showing us just how
of Cape Town (UCT) in 1996 and was
versatile Rooibos can be.
awarded the Joseph Arenow Price for the most meritorious thesis for the degree of
We were the first to show Rooibos to act
MSc Med/MPhil in the Faculty of Medicine,
as a preventative agent against the devel-
UCT followed by a PhD (Biochemistry)
opment of skin cancer, liver cancer and
from the University of Stellenbosch. Here,
oesophageal cancer in various experimental The biggest challenge for me when I
Jeanine tells us about her journey with
models. Very few human studies are cur-
started my research was how on earth was
Rooibos and its benefits.
rently available on Rooibos to evaluate the
I going to do this research? as I also had
Jeanine Marnewick is a professor and head of the Oxidative Stress Research Centre at Cape Peninsula University of Technology
health promoting effects of this proudly
the perception of a scientist being a very
My main research focus for the past 18
South African product, and we were the
lonely figure working behind closed doors. I
years has been the health promoting prop-
first to report the protective effect six cups
was extremely fortunate to have started out
erties of Rooibos an endemic South African
of Rooibos has on adults at risk for heart
with an excellent team of scientists at the
herbal tea, with a specific focus on chemo-
disease.
Medical Research Council.
prevention. When we started the research,
The results from that study showed drink-
very few scientific publications on the bio-
ing six cups of Rooibos every day for 6
Apart from the obvious scientific substan-
logical activities of these herbal teas were
weeks significantly lowers your “bad” cho-
tiation of the health benefits of Rooibos, I
available.
lesterol, increases your “good” cholesterol,
also use my studies with Rooibos as a way
increases your body’s own powerful anti-
to inspire our younger generation of scien-
In the early 1980s, Rooibos was mainly
oxidant called glutathione and reduces the
tists. Rooibos is my passion; I enjoy working
available to us as a herbal tea, a hot brew,
oxidative damage to lipids in your body, all
with this proudly South African product and
events linked in some way or another to
I am looking forward to unravelling more
cardiovascular disease.
scientific wonders of rooibos in future.
I believe that as scientists, we have an
It is extremely important to have a very
obligation to our communities; to provide
good foundation in Science, know your
them with possible solutions for problems
field of Science, become the expert and
they face daily. There is a clear increase in
surround yourself with professionals in the
the burden of non-communicable diseases,
field. As a woman, you will be facing dif-
such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes
ferent challenges, tackle them head-on, do
in South Africa and we have to find addi-
not compromise your own values, never
tional ways to combat this trend. I strongly
lose your curiosity for Science, be patient,
believe that Rooibos fits into this category
hardworking and you will reap the rewards.
as a complementary preventative measure
Remember the famous quote “A woman is
recommending to make Rooibos part of our
like a tea bag, you never know how strong
daily health regime.
it is until it is in hot water”.
Rooibos plant
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Science Stars Magazine Women In Science Issue | www.sciencestars.co.za