MRC PhD students

Linda is currently completing her MSc degree in the PROMEC Unit at the Medical Research Council, Tygerberg.

Her study entails the evaluation of the cancer modulating properties of rooibos and honeybush teas and their polyphenol components against oesophageal cancer which could have important implications for the possible use as chemopreventive agents.

The main objectives of the study are to:

1. monitor the effects of rooibos and honeybush teas on cell toxicity, proliferation, apoptosis and methylbenzylnitrosamine (MBN)-induced DNA damage, using a human oesophageal cancer cell line (WCHO5), in an attempt to elucidate the possible mechanisms involved in cancer modulation.
2. determine whether oral intake of fermented and unfermented rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia) teas modify MBN-induced oesophageal cancer in vivo.

Supervised by Prof WCA Gelderblom (PROMEC Unit) and Prof M. de Kock (University of the Western Cape).