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Rooibos Research in South Africa Print E-mail

Rooibos can boost “master” antioxidant – glutathione

By Dr Carl Albrecht, Head: Research, CANSA, August 2009.   Researchers at South Africa’s Medical Research Council found that rats who drank Rooibos tea, as their only source of liquid, for ten weeks, had a five-fold elevation of the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidised glutathione. Glutathione is the master anti-oxidant in the body. It is made by the body, especially the liver, and cannot be taken as a supplement because it is broken down in the gut. It decreases with ageing and smoking. Glutathione has been found in many studies to counteract heart diseases, cancers and ageing. Consequently, it is reasoned that if Rooibos can elevate the reduced glutathione to oxidised glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG), this remarkable effect could help to reduce the risk of cancer (and other lifestyle diseases). In another recent study South African by Professor Jeanine Marnewick of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, also found that Rooibos tea taken as six cups a day for three months, by healthy volunteers, elevated blood glutathione by 100%. CANSA is excited about these results and believes that they point to growing convergence of evidence that Rooibos could play an important role in reducing the risk of cancer in South Africa.  What is also pleasing, is that this tea is quite natural, safe to use and relatively inexpensive. It is also the most successful indigenous plant product to be commercialised and is exported all over the world.

ONGOING RESEARCH (see Rooibos Council Product Research Portfolio )

Research studies in vitro (in a controlled laboratory environment) and in vivo (in live animals) help to understand and verify the health promoting properties of Rooibos. Clinical trials are necessary to confirm these health benefits for people. After years of laboratory and animal work on Rooibos in South Africa and around the world, the first clinical Rooibos trials in adults got underway in 2007, in Cape Town.

In their laboratory and animal studies, researchers focus on demonstrating that Rooibos indeed delivers desired biological activity such as antioxidant activity, antimutagenic activity etc. They explore the precise mechanisms whereby the active ingredients in Rooibos work, the structure of these compounds and how these antioxidants behave in different environments. Many research groups around the world have published articles on Rooibos since the 1960’s. [see Rooibos Research References ]

Specific Rooibos studies currently underway at South Africa’s Medical Research Council include:

  • Interactions between toxins and Rooibos flavonoids in biological systems. Enquiries: Professor Wentzel Gelderblom.
  • Effect of Rooibos on colon cancer in vitro (cell lines in the laboratory) and in vivo (in animal models). Enquiries: Professor Wentzel Gelderblom.

South African Rooibos Researchers

Professor Elisabeth (Lizette) Joubert

  • Specialist researcher at the Agricultural Research Council, Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch
  • Extraordinary professor at the Food Science Department, Stellenbosch University
  • Research focus: Processing, composition, bioavailability and antioxidants of Rooibos and other herbal teas
  • Contact details
    • Tel: +27+21 809-3444.
    • Fax:+27+21 809-3430
    • Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Professor Jeanine Marnewick

  • Manager: Oxidative Stress Research Centre
  • Antioxidant Research Group; Faculty of Health and Wellness  Sciences
  • Research focus: Disease prevention, Rooibos, Honeybush, Indigenous herbal medicines, Oxidative stress–related diseases, Clinical Interventions studies, Antioxidant testing
  • Contact details:
    • Tel: +27+21 953 8416
    • Fax:+27+21 953 8490
    • Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Professor Wentzel (Blom) Gelderblom

  • Chief Specialist Scientist 
  • Programme on Mycotoxins and Experimental Carcinogenesis (PROMEC) Unit
  • Medical Research Council
  • Extraordinary Professor at the Biochemistry Department, Stellenbosch University
  • Research focus: Carcinogenesis, Toxicology, Drug metabolism.
  • Contact details
    • Tel: +27+21 938-0286
    • Fax:+27+21 938-0260
    • Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
    We are only beginning to uncover the chemopreventive properties of the unique South African herbal teas. Although complex, it is an enticing research challenge for the future."
    Professor Wentzel Gelderblom
    Medical Research Council
    I am very excited about the results obtained with Rooibos and our focus at the university will include substantiating anecdotal health claims of this herbal tea. Cumulative research results strongly suggest that the consumption of Rooibos may play an important role in the overall health of the South African population."
    Dr Jeanine Marnewick
    Cape Peninsula University of Technology
    Rooibos is just one of the products in the shopping basket containing antioxidants. It is, however, the only one containing aspalathin."
    Professor Elizabeth Joubert
    Agricultural Research Council
 
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