Local newsNews

Westville graduate achieves a master’s degree with flying colours

Myuri Parusnath celebrates her achievement and gets ready to present her research to the world.

WESTVILLE resident and master’s graduate Myuri Parusnath is set to present her research at the second Global Traditional Medicine Conference in July.

Parusnath graduated with a Master’s in Science cum laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her research investigated the biological medicinal properties of a plant commonly known as the velvet bushwillow (combretum molle). Parusnath’s investigation of the underlying structures and compounds that provide the plant with its therapeutic effects showed antibacterial and antioxidant benefits and recommends that the extracts and isolated compounds could be used in drug development.

The velvet bushwillow is used by traditional healers in the symptomatic treatment of malaria, hookworm, stomach pain, leprosy, diarrhoea, convulsions and HIV/Aids. For Parusnath, this is a dream come true as she has always been passionate about science.

Also read: UKZN secures funding to support postgraduates

“Whenever anything science-related popped up on TV, it caught my attention and inspired me to then play ‘scientist’, using my mum’s perfumes and lotions,” she said.

She further highlighted her participation in the Global Traditional Medicine Conference. “The conference is a virtual conference of different scientists from across the world. I will be representing a chapter in my research which will be about the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the plant.

“I am proud of this achievement; my goal was to pass with flying colours, and I did exactly that. There were distractions, especially during the pandemic. I am happy that I completed my studies, and I am grateful for the support system I had throughout,” she said.

Also read: Local university graduates give sage advice to first-year students

The university described Parusnath as a consistent high achiever. “Parusnath enrolled for a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at UKZN after she matriculated from Star College with exceptional results. She was awarded Certificates of Merit for several modules, became a member of the Golden Key International Society and went on to complete her BSc Honours in Biological Sciences summa cum laude,” they said.

She is currently registered for a PhD in Biology to continue with her medicinal plant research and hopes to pursue a career in academia. Parusnath says she is proud to have two chapters of her research published in a peer-reviewed journal.

For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here.

Nonhlanhla Hlatshwayo

As a journalist at the Highway Mail, I contribute engaging content to both our weekly newspaper and website, collaborating with the editorial team to deliver community-focused stories that resonate with the Upper Highway area. With two years of experience under my belt, I've refined my expertise in researching and crafting compelling online and print articles, as well as producing high-quality video content for our website. I'm proud to be part of a trusted community publication that shares the stories that matter most to our readers.

Related Articles

Back to top button