Research Leader: Dr Rebamang Mosa

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Research Focus: 
There has been a dramatic change in patterns of disease burden with metabolic disorder related diseases taking the top ten spots. This has partly been attributed to changes in eating habits along with other modern lifestyle changes. I developed interest in medicinal plants as potential sources of novel bioactive compounds that could be developed into pharmacologically active drugs against some metabolic diseases, with specific interest on diabetes. In pursue of my interest, I am currently a leader of diabetes and vascular disease (DVD) research group. Our research group focuses on evaluation of the potential use of medicinal plants as crude extracts and/or their pure isolated bioactive compounds in the treatment of diabetes and its related vascular complications. Some of the research projects currently underway in the group include targeting diabetes dyslipidemia and some other diabetes associated risks of atherogenesis with plant-derived compounds. The group currently has two PhD and three MSc students working on the projects.

Team:

MSc students
Naleli Ramasia
Nomthandazo Nobuhle Ndlangamandla
Nonduduzo Sibongisihle Kunene

PhD Students
Musawenkosi Ndlovu
Maria Hamunyela

Collaborators
Dr M Selebe, University of Pretoria, RSA
Prof. AO Lawal, Lagos State University, Nigeria
Prof. AR Opoku, University of Zululand, RSA
Prof. GE Zharare, University of Zululand, RSA
Prof. M Bester, University of Pretoria, RSA
Prof. FPD Viegas, Federal University of Alfenas, Brazil

Recent publications

Ramabulana T, Ndlovu M, Mosa RA, Sonopo MS, Selepe MA (2022). Phytochemical profiling and isolation of bioactive compounds from Leucosidea sericea (Rosaceae). ACS Omega 7(14):11964-11972. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c00096

Sangweni NF, Mosa RA, Dludla PV, Kappo AP, Opoku AR, Muller CJF, Johnson R (2021). The triterpene, methyl-3β-hydroxylanosta-9,24-dien-21-oate (RA3), attenuates high glucose-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis by improving energy metabolism. Phytomedicine 85, 153546; http://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153546

Hlophe NB, Opoku AR, Osunsanmi FO, Djarova-Daniels TG, Lawal OA, Mosa RA (2020). A lanosteryl triterpene (RA-3) exhibits antihyperuricemic and nephroprotective effects in rats. Molecules 25, 4010; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25174010

Mabhida SE, Johnson R, Ndlovu M, Sangweni NF, Louw J, Opoku AR, Mosa RA (2018). A lanosteryl triterpene from Protorhus longifolia augments insulin signaling in skeletal muscle of type 1 diabetic rats. BMC Alternative and Complementary Medicine 18:265 http://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-018-2337-z

Mosa RA, Hlophe NB, Ngema NT, Penduka D, Lawal OA, Opoku AR (2016). Cardioprotective potential of a lanosteryl triterpene from Protorhus longifolia. Pharmaceutical Biology 54(12): 3244-3248 http://doi.org/10.1080/13880209.2016.1223144