Dr MA Selepe

Tel:                 +27 (0)12 420-2345
Email:             [email protected]
Office:            3-3.5 Chemistry building

Position:        Chief Researcher (NMR)

Academic qualification: PhD (Organic Chemistry)

Teaching and Training

CMY730 MS Skills, CMY 384

Train postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers on the use of NMR and LC-MS-SPE equipment.

Research interests

My research interests are on isolation of compounds from natural sources and synthesis of natural compounds and derivatives.The isolated and synthesised compounds are investigated for their potential benefits to human health and applications for sustainable agriculture, in collaboration with researchers from other departments at UP and external institutions.

Research Profiles

• Google Scholar

Selected Publications

Isolation of Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources

Ramabulana, T.; Scheepers L.-M.; Moodley, T.; Maharaj, V.J.; Stander, A.; Gama, N.; Ferreira, D.; Sonopo, M.S.; Selepe, M.A*.  Bioactive Lignans from Hypoestes aristata. Journal of Natural Products 2020, 83(8), 2483-2489. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00443

Ramabulana, T.; Ndlovu, M.; Mosa, R.A.; Sonopo, M.S.*; Selepe, M.A.* Phytochemical Profiling and Isolation of Bioactive Compounds from Leucosidea sericea (Rosaceae). ACS Omega 2022, 7 (14), 11964-11972. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c00096

Adewole, A.H.; Famuyide, I.M.; McGaw, L.J.; Selepe, M.A.*; October, N*. Antifungal Compounds from the Leaves of Rhynchosia minima. Chemistry & Biodiversity 2022, 19 (12), e202200837. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202200837

Ndlovu, M.*; Serem, J.C.; Selepe, M.A.; Opoku, A.R.; Bester, M.J.; Apostolides, Z.; Mosa, R.A.* Triterpenoids from Protorhus longifolia Exhibit Hypocholesterolemic Potential via Regulation of Cholesterol Biosynthesis and Stimulation of Low-Density Lipoprotein Uptake in HepG2 Cells. ACS Omega 2023, 8 (34), 30906-30916.https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c01995

Synthesis of Natural Compounds and Derivatives

Kunyane, P; Sonopo M.S; Selepe, M.A*. Synthesis of isoflavones by tandem demethylation and ring-opening/cyclization of methoxybenzoylbenzofurans. Journal of Natural Products 2019, 82(11), 3074-308. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00681

Malefo, M.S; Ramadwa, T.E.; Famuyide, M.; McGaw, L.J.; Eloff, J.N.; Sonopo, M.S.; Selepe, M.A*.  Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of Chromones and Benzoxepines from the Leaves of Ptaeroxylon obliquum. Journal of Natural Products 2020, 83(8), 2508-2517. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00587

Selepe, M.A.*; Kunyane, P.; Seboletswe, P.; Nair, S.; Cele, N.; Engelbrecht, M.; Joubert, D.F.; Vandevoorde, C.; Singh, P.*; Sonopo, M.S.* Synthesis and evaluation of benzoylbenzofurans and isoflavone derivatives as sirtuin 1 inhibitors with antiproliferative effects on cancer cells. Bioorganic Chemistry 2022, 128, 106101.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106101

Selepe, M.A* Isoflavone Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents: Synthesis and Bioactivity Studies. ChemMedChem. 2024, Invited article. Accepted for publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/cmdc.202400420

Selepe, M.A.; van Heerden, F. R. Application of the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction in the synthesis of flavonoids. Molecules 2013, 18(4), 4739-4765.

Selepe, M.A.; Drewes, S.E.; van Heerden, F.R. Total Synthesis of the Pyranocoumaronochromone Lupinalbin H. Tetrahedron 2011, 67, 8654-8658.

Selepe, M.A.; Drewes, S.E.; van Heerden, F.R. Total Synthesis of the Pyranoisoflavone Kraussianone 1 and Related Isoflavones. Journal of Natural Products 2010, 73(10), 16801685.

Student Supervision: Alumni

PhD: Supervised

Dr Rendani T. Ramabulana: 2021

Title: Identification, isolation, and characterisation of bioactive compounds from Hypoestes aristata (Acanthaceae) and Leucosidea sericea (Rosaceae)

Co-Supervised

Dr Adetola H. Adewole: 2023 (Primary supervisor: Dr N. October, Chemistry Department)

Title: Chemical profiling, isolation, and characterization of bioactive compounds from Rhynchosia minima var prostrata and Phragmites mauritianus

MSc: Supervised

Ms Modibo S. Malefo: 2021 (Distinction)

Title: Total synthesis of eranthin acetate, ptaeroxylinol acetate, and derivatives thereof

Mr Phaladi Kunyane: 2019 (Distinction)

Title: Investigation of new synthetic routes for flavonoids and radiolabeling of their biologically-active derivatives

Co-Supervised

Ms Sandisiwe Mahlangu: 2023 (Primary Supervisor: Dr T Mhlanga, Physiology Department)

Title: In vitro effect of a sirtuin inhibitor and its possible synergistic effect with a potential tubulin inhibitor on breast cancer cell lines

Ms Gudani Taupedi: 2023 (Primary Supervisor: Dr T. Kupi, North-West University)

Title: Synthesis of the C-14 radiolabelled, natural product, aspalathin

Current Students

Primary Supervision

PhD

Mr Dikosha Makgoathana

MSc

Ms Kwanele Hlongwane

Ms Lorraine Madibana

Ms Lungile Mnyandu

Co-Supervision

PhD

Ms Sinothile Khuzwayo (Supervisor: Dr N Gama, BGM)

Mr Onana Nguini (Supervisor: Prof S Cosa, BGM)

Ms Maria Hamunyela (Supervisor: Dr R Mosa, BGM)

MSc

Ms VaniaTshimweneka (Supervisor: Dr T Mhlanga, Physiology Department)

Mr Qiniso Sithole (Supervisor: Dr T Ramakuwela, Plant and Soil Sciences Department)