The 29-year-old academic says she hopes that her work serves as a reminder of the vast resources that nature offers – and reinforces that there is still so much to learn from plants in the fight against cancer.
The oldest of three children to parents Andrew and Toni de la Harpe, Amy matriculated from Pearson High School in 2013 before launching her academic career in the biosciences field.
Her doctoral thesis, ‘Characterisation of the molecular mechanisms of cannabinoid-induced paraptosis in breast cancer cells’, was a research project based on a unique combination of cannabinoids discovered by her colleague, Recardia Schoeman, and which has since been patented.
“I studied the cannabinoid ratio further to investigate how it affected breast cancer cells,” says Amy. “We found that the unique combination of cannabinoids resulted in significant cell death in the breast cancer cells through a very unusual mechanism of cell death called paraptosis.
“These promising findings show that cannabinoids can induce cancer cell death through an uncommon mechanism, which expands their potential for use as treatment for cancer.
“My research also showed that using a combination of cannabinoids, rather than just one, may be a more effective strategy for fighting cancer. This discovery highlights a new approach for using plant-based cannabinoids in treating cancer.
“We found that this mechanism of cell death, which had not previously been linked to plant-based cannabinoids, was primarily induced by a dysregulation of calcium signalling and calcium overload in the mitochondria.
“This led to significant swelling of certain cell structures and the death of breast cancer cells, but left healthy cells relatively unaffected.”
A firm foundation
Amy presented her research at the 71st International Congress and Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research in Dublin, Ireland in 2023.
It was also recently published in the Journal of Cell Proliferation (Cell Proliferation | Cell Biology Journal | Wiley Online Library).
She credits her supervisor, Professor in Biochemistry, Carminita Frost, of the Biochemistry and Microbiology Department, as being one of the most significant influences on her current career trajectory.
“She has been an exceptional mentor, not only in guiding me in the technical aspects of scientific research, but also inspiring my passion for the field.
“Her deep love for research is palpable and contagious—it’s clear that she genuinely enjoys the process of discovery and problem-solving. This enthusiasm has had a profound impact on me, and fuelled my own passion for research.
“She has created an environment in her lab where curiosity and learning are deeply encouraged, and her guidance has been invaluable in shaping my scientific, professional, and personal growth. “
A case against cancer
Cancer is a very broad term that encompasses thousands of different types of diseases, which makes it very difficult to treat, says Amy.
“There has been significant progress in the development of effective cancer therapies, many of which were derived from natural products.
“My research focused on exploring the potential of plants and natural products as possible cancer treatments, an area that, despite its promise, is often underexplored.
“I believe there is great potential in investigating the unique chemical compounds found in plants, as these compounds may hold the key to discovering new, more effective treatments that could complement or enhance current therapies.
Cannabis: curse or cure-all?
The complicated history of the use of cannabis plants has contributed to an exaggerated negative stigma which persists in many parts of the world today, says Amy.
“Cannabinoids are compounds that occur naturally in the cannabis plant, and more than 100 different plant-based cannabinoids have been discovered so far.
“The intoxicating effect commonly associated with cannabis is mainly caused by one cannabinoid called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is found in high levels in recreational cannabis strains.”
In contrast, she explains, medicinal strains of cannabis generally have low levels of THC and high levels of another cannabinoid called CBD (cannabidiol). Unlike THC, CBD has no intoxicating effects and does not cause the ‘high’ associated with recreational cannabis.
Medicinal cannabis products also have to meet certain criteria for the level of THC in their products.
“Cannabis has a long and complex history. There is evidence of its use dating back over 10 000 years. The modern history of medicinal cannabis gained significant momentum in the 19th century, which led to an explosion in the medicinal use and research on cannabis,” says Amy.
“However, due to its intoxicating effects, recreational use had also increased, which led to several legal prohibitions being implemented, which interrupted research.”
Fast forward to the 20th century, when there was “a lot of anti-cannabis propaganda, which promoted fear and misinformation about the plant. This led to public panic, which resulted in stronger legal restrictions and bans.”
Despite these challenges, she says, the growing evidence for the medicinal benefits of cannabis, along with changing public attitudes, has sparked renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabis.
“In my opinion, we should not let the intoxicating effects of a single cannabinoid overshadow the broader therapeutic potential of the entire cannabis plant. By focusing solely on the effects of THC, we risk overlooking the valuable medicinal properties that other cannabinoids, such as CBD, may offer.”
SA a hotbed of healing
South Africa has a rich biodiversity, particularly when it comes to its unique plant life, and many of these plants have documented therapeutic benefits, says Amy.
“My hope is that research in South Africa continues to explore these plants, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. I believe that by focusing on the incredible natural resources we have here, we can contribute significantly to global research on plant-based therapies.”