肆客足球

Medicinal Plant Biology

Current research projects

South Africa is renowned for its plant biodiversity and is highly resourced with plants that have medicinal value.  As a result, the tradition of plant use for medicinal purposes continues to contribute to the healthcare of a large proportion of the population.  The exploitation of medical plants is largely attributed to the wealth of pharmacologically active chemicals which these plants are able to synthesize through secondary metabolism. The study of medicinal plants has become a priority in South Africa and this is evidenced by an increasing volume of literature emanating from South African research institutions.  Most of these studies aim to validate the rationale for use of medicinal flora and thus utilization of biotechnological tools in studying medicinal flora remains a new paradigm not only in South Africa but Africa as whole.

Studies with a biotechnological angle have generally employed tissue culture as in vitro conservation strategy in order to provide an ex situ reserve for species under threat. More intensive exploration of biotechnological approaches is required particularly for the discovery of new biologically active and useful secondary compounds; and, in answering questions related to the molecular and genetic regulation of secondary metabolism in plants. In our laboratories, we have been applying a broad-based biotechnological approach to facilitate use of plants efficiently, in a non-destructive sustainable manner and to gain insights into the regulation of secondary metabolism.
Journal Articles

Aston Philander, L. E., Makunga, N. P., & Esler, K. J. (2014). The informal trade of medicinal plants by rastafari bush doctors in the western cape of south africa. Economic Botany, 68(3), 303-315.

Grobbelaar, M. C., Makunga, N. P., Stander, M. A., Kossmann, J., & Hills, P. N. (2014). Effect of strigolactones and auxins on growth and metabolite content of sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R. br. microplants in vitro. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 117(3), 401-409.

Nkomo, M. M., Katerere, D. D. R., Vismer, H. H. F., Cruz, T. T., Balayssac, S. S., Malet-Martino, M. M., & Makunga, N. N. P. (2014). Fusarium inhibition by wild populations of the medicinal plant salvia africana-lutea L. linked to metabolomic profiling. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14

Colling, J., Pollier, J., Makunga, N. P., & Goossens, A. (2013). cDNA-AFLP-based transcript profiling for genome-wide expression analysis of jasmonate-treated plants and plant cultures. Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.), 1011, 287-303.

Zonyane, S., Van Vuuren, S. F., & Makunga, N. P. (2013). Antimicrobial interactions of khoi-san poly-herbal remedies with emphasis on the combination; agathosma crenulata, dodonaea viscosa and eucalyptus globulus. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 148(1), 144-151.

Albrecht, C. F., Stander, M. A., Grobbelaar, M. C., Colling, J., Kossmann, J., Hills, P. N., & Makunga, N. P. (2012). LC-MS-based metabolomics assists with quality assessment and traceability of wild and cultivated plants of sutherlandia frutescens (fabaceae). South African Journal of Botany, 82, 33-45.

Fawole, O. A., Makunga, N. P., & Opara, U. L. (2012). Antibacterial, antioxidant and tyrosinase-inhibition activities of pomegranate fruit peel methanolic extract. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12

Musarurwa, H. T., Koegelenberg, L., & Makunga, N. P. (2012). Chemical variation in essential oil profiles detected using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography spectrometry in response to potassium, nitrogen, and water available to micropropagated plants of salvia stenophylla (burch. ex benth.). Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 31(2), 207-220.

Aston Philander, L. E., Makunga, N. P., & Platten, S. J. (2011). Local medicinal plant knowledge in south africa preserved by apartheid. Human Ecology, 39(2), 203-216.

Makunga, N., Thwala, J., & Edwards, S. (2011). The meanings of an animal wristband (isiphandla) in KwaZulu-natal, south africa. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 21(3), 371-374.

Colling, J., Groenewald, J. -., & Makunga, N. P. (2010). Genetic alterations for increased coumarin production lead to metabolic changes in the medicinally important pelargonium sidoides DC (geraniaceae). Metabolic Engineering, 12(6), 561-572.

Colling, J., Stander, M. A., & Makunga, N. P. (2010). Nitrogen supply and abiotic stress influence canavanine synthesis and the productivity of in vitro regenerated sutherlandia frutescens microshoots.Journal of Plant Physiology, 167(17), 1521-1524.

Musarurwa, H. T., van Staden, J., & Makunga, N. P. (2010). In vitro seed germination and cultivation of the aromatic medicinal salvia stenophylla (burch. ex benth.) provides an alternative source of α-bisabolol. Plant Growth Regulation, 61(3), 287-295.

Kamatou, G. P. P., Makunga, N. P., Ramogola, W. P. N., & Viljoen, A. M. (2008). South african salvia species: A review of biological activities and phytochemistry. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 119(3), 664-672.

Makunga, N. P., Philander, L. E., & Smith, M. (2008). Current perspectives on an emerging formal natural products sector in south africa. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 119(3), 365-375.

Makunga NP & van Staden J (2008) An efficient system for the production of clonal plantlets of the medicinally important aromatic plant: Salvia africana-lutea L. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture 92: 63-72

Nigro SA, Makunga NP, Jones NB & van Staden J (2008) An Agrobacterium-mediated system for gene transfer in Pinus patula. South African Journal of Botany 74:144-14

Madubanya LA, Makunga NP & Fennell CW (2006) Dierama luteoalbidum: Liquid culture provides an efficient system for the ex situ conservation of an endangered and horticulturally valuable plant. South African Journal of Botany 72: 584 -588

Makunga NP, J?ger AK & van Staden J (2006) Improved in vitro rooting and hyperhydricity in regenerating tissues of Thapsia garganica L. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 86: 77-86

Nigro SA, Makunga NP, Jones NB & van Staden J (2005) A biolistic approach towards transgenic Pinus patula Schiedde  et Deppe ‘embryonal suspensor masses’. Plant Growth Regulation 44: 187-197

Madubanya LA, J?ger AK, Makunga NP, Geldenhuys CJ & van Staden J (2005) DNA fingerprinting and anti-inflammatory activity of Ocotea bullata bark from different locations. South African Journal of Botany 71: 38-44

Makunga NP, J?ger, AK &, van Staden J (2005) An improved system for the in vitro regeneration in T. garganica L. via organogenesis – influence of auxins and cytokinin. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 82: 271-280

Nigro SA, Makunga NP & Grace OM (2004) Medicinal plants at the ethnobotany and biotechnology interface in Africa. South African Journal of Botany 70: 89-96 (Special edition on Biotechnology)

Makunga NP, J?ger, AK & van Staden J. (2003) Micropropagation of Thapsia garganica – a medicinal plant. Plant Cell Reports 21: 967 973

Makunga NP, van Staden J & Cress WA (1997) The effect of light and 2,4-D on anthocyanin production in Oxalis  reclinata callus. Plant Growth Regulation 23: 153-158

Book Chapters

• Ford CS, Fisher LJ, Jones NB, Nigro SA, Makunga NP & van Staden J (2005) Somatic embryogenesis in Pinus patula. In: Jain SM & Gupta P (eds), Protocols for Somatic Embryogenesis in Woody plants. Springer, Dordrecht. pp 121-139. ISBN 1-4020-2984-5
• Fennell CW, Makunga NP & van Staden J (2006) Medicinal plants and biotechnology: an integrated approach to healthcare.  In: Teixera da Silva JA (ed), Floriculture, Ornamental and Plant Biotechnology: Advances and Topical Issues, Volume 4 Global Science Books, UK. pp 41-53 ISBN 978-4-903313-09-2

Conference outputs

• Nigro SA, Makunga NP, Jones NB & van Staden J. (2000) Bombardment - mediated transformation of Pinus patula. 26th Annual Congress of South African Association for Botanists Conference (肆客足球 of Potchefstroom, Potchefstroom)
• Makunga NP, van Staden J & J?ger AK (2001) Developing a protocol for the transformation of Thapsia garganica the root inducing genes of Agrobacterium rhizogenes. 27thAnnual Congress of South African Association for Botanists Conference (Rand Afrikaans 肆客足球, Johannesburg)
• Nigro SA, Makunga NP, Jones NB & van Staden J. (2001) Bombardment-mediated transformation of Pinus patula embryogenic tissue and somatic embryos. 27th Annual Congress of South African Association for Botanists Conference (Rand Afrikaans 肆客足球, Johannesburg)
• Makunga NP, van Staden J & J?ger AK (2002) Transfer of the root inducing genes of Agrobacterium rhizogenes into Thapsia garganica, a medicinal. 28thAnnual Congress of South African Association for Botanists Conference (Rhodes 肆客足球, Grahamstown) South African Journal of Botany 68: 259
• Makunga NP, J?ger AK & van Staden J. (2002) Micropropagation and genetic transformation of T. garganica: Progress and Perspectives. 8th International Pacific Rim Biotechnology Conference (Auckland, New Zealand)
• Nigro SA, Makunga NP, Jones NB & van Staden J.  (2002) Generation of transgenic Pinus patula embryogenic tissue via particle bombardment transfer (Auckland, New Zealand)
• Nigro SA, Makunga NP, Jones NB & van Staden J. (2003) Genetic transformation of Pinus patula embryogenic tissue. 28th Annual Congress of South African Association of Botanists (Rhodes 肆客足球, Grahamstown)
• Makunga NP, J?ger AK & van Staden J. (2003) Application of transgenic technology towards improved thapsigargin production by Thapsia garganica L. 29th Annual Congress of South African Association of Botanists (肆客足球 of Pretoria, Pretoria) South African Journal of Botany 69: 237
• Makunga NP, J?ger AK & van Staden J. (2003) Transgenic approach towards improving thapsigargin production by Thapsia garganica L. (2003) 7th International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology (Barcelona, Spain)
• Nigro SA, Makunga NP. Jones NB & van Staden J. (2003) Towards transgenic Pinus patula with uidA and bar genes resulting from microprojectile bombardment of embryonal suspensor masses (ESM) 29th Annual Congress of South African Association of Botanists (肆客足球 of Pretoria, Pretoria) South African Journal of Botany 69: 259
• Ascough GD, Makunga NP, van Staden J. (2004) Double haploid production in wheat using isolated microspore culture. 30th Annual Congress of the South African Association of Botanists (肆客足球 of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban) South African Journal of Botany 70: 332
• Nigro SA, Makunga NP, Jones NB & van Staden J. (2004) Genetic modification of a commercially important softwood species by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. 30th Annual Congress of the South African Association of Botanists (肆客足球 of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban) South African Journal of Botany 70: 347
• Makunga NP, van Staden J. (August 2005) Production and analysis of bioactives in in vitro shoot and hairy root cultures of southern African sages. International Congress and 53rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant Research (Florence, Italy)
• Makunga NP, J?ger AK, van Staden J. (February 2006) Southern African Essential Oils: From germplasm to oil distillation, extraction and quality control. 1st International Aromatic Plants and Essential Oil Mini-Symposium. (TechnoPark, Stellenbosch)
• Makunga NP, Colling J, Horsthemke HR, Ramogola WPN, van Staden J. (January 2007) Changing the chemical mosaic of South African medicinal plants through biotechnological strategies. 33rd Annual meeting of the South African Association for Botanists (肆客足球 of Cape Town, Cape Town)
• Nigro SA, Makunga NP, Jones NB, van Staden J (January 2006) From jelly beans to jumping genes – application of biotechnology in conifers. 33rd Annual meeting of the South African Association for Botanists (肆客足球 of Cape Town, Cape Town)
• Makunga NP, Colling J, Horsthemke HR, Ramogola WPN, van Staden J (August 2007) Adopting biotechnological strategies – plants from South Africa as targets. Plants for human health in the post-genomic area (Helsinki, Finland)
• Colling J, JH Groenewald, Makunga  NP (January 2008) Genetic modification and biochemical analysis of in vitro cultures of Pelargonium sidoides
• Philander LE, Makunga NP, Ellen R (January 2008) Transmission of Medicinal Plant Knowledge in Urban Cape Town. 34th Annual meeting of the South African Association for Botanists (肆客足球 of the Witwatersrand, Drakensville)
• Makunga NP, J?ger  AK , van Staden  J (January 2008) Contriubtion of South African plants to medicinla plant biotechnology. 34th Annual meeting of the South African Association for Botanists (肆客足球 of the Witwatersrand, Drakensville)
• Ramogola WPN, Makunga NP, van Staden J. (January 2008) Molecular analysis of in vitro cultures of Salvia africana-lutea L. 34th Annual meeting of the South African Association for Botanists (肆客足球 of the Witwatersrand, Drakensville)
  

Current Students