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.
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“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.
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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.
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