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Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master in Technology, Department of Biomedical Technology and Clinical Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Introduction In Africa, use of phytotherapy for treatment of diabetes mellitus is a common form of practice. Considering the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases in South Africa efforts are directed at simple, cost effective, non-hazardous and efficient methods to treat cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The role of phytonanotherapy is an attractive proposition for advancing new therapies. Metal nanoparticles are a possible means for delivery of such therapies. However, this requires investigation on interactions, mechanisms and therapeutic efficacy upon co-administering ethnobotanicals with metal nanoparticles and existing drug therapy in human beings. Aim The primary aim of the study was to test the in vitro antidiabetic and antibacterial activity of Ocimum sanctum (leaf extracts and flower extracts), Ocimum basilicum (leaf extracts and flower extracts), and a combination of the leaf extracts of both, and to observe whether any antidiabetic and antibacterial activity was enhanced in due to phyto-synthesised bimetallic gold-silver (Au-Ag) nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles. Methods Aqueous and ethanol extracts of O. sanctum and O. basilicum leaf and flowers alone and combined (leaf + flower) were prepared using hot vs cold water extraction techniques and 60% and 70% ethanol as polar solvents. A simple, rapid, cost effective and reproducible green chemistry method synthesised alloyed bimetallic (Au-Ag) nanoparticles using O. basilicum leaf and flower aqueous extracts and prepared silver nanoparticles (AgNps) using O. basilicum and O. sanctum leaf aqueous extracts singly and in combination (O. sanctum + O. basilicum). The size, shape and elemental analysis of the nanoparticles was carried out using UV-Visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) supported by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) identified the bio-capping agents. Antidiabetic carbohydrate metabolising enzymes, α-amylase (porcine) and Bacillus stearothermophilus α-glucosidase as models tested the in vitro inhibitory potential of the aqueous and ethanol plant extracts and the phyto-synthesised (Au-Ag) bimetallic and AgNps. In addition, the study investigated the antibacterial potential for the aqueous plant preparations and their respective phyto-synthesised bimetallic and AgNps against the bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to gentamycin and vancomycin. Results Bimetallic nanoparticles (synthesised from leaf and flower aqueous extracts) displayed inhibitory activity that showed uncompetitive inhibition (leaf extract), and non-competitive inhibition (flower extract) of α-amylase and competitive (leaf extract) and uncompetitive inhibition (flower extract) of α-glucosidase. Bimetallic nanoparticles were higher in inhibitory activity than acarbose and the crude O. basilicum ethanol and aqueous leaf and flower extracts. In the antibacterial analysis, bimetallic nanoparticles derived from O. basilicum leaf showed inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and were greater in activity compared to the crude aqueous leaf extract from O. basilicum. The in vitro inhibitory effect of AgNps derived from O. sanctum and AgNps derived from O. basilicum on both enzymes was higher in activity than acarbose and their respective crude extracts. However, in combination (O. sanctum + O. basilicum), the derived AgNps appeared to be a less potent inhibitor of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme and was lower than acarbose. AgNps synthesised from the combination of O. sanctum and O. basilicum showed the highest percentage inhibition against Bacillus stearothermophilus α-glucosidase, and AgNps derived from O. sanctum and AgNps derived from O. basilicum displayed competitive type of inhibition. In the antibacterial analysis, AgNps derived from the various extracts showed zones of inhibition against the Gram negative and Gram positive bacterial test strains. However, AgNps synthesised from the O. sanctum leaf extract showed higher inhibition against Escherichia coli than the positive control gentamycin and higher inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus compared to vancomycin. In addition, AgNps from O. sanctum leaf extract displayed inhibition against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella species, thus representing the highest antibacterial potential. Conclusion The results demonstrate the possibility of synthesis of stable silver and bimetallic nanoparticles of Ocimum sp. The synthesised silver nanoparticles and first time synthesis of bimetallic (Au-Ag) nanoparticles displayed enhanced antihyperglycaemic properties compared to their respective crude extracts and, therefore, show promising effects in lowering postprandial hyperglycaemia in diabetic patients with dual potential for antibacterial treatment. However, the antidiabetic and antibacterial effect will need to be further affirmed in a clinical context. Medicinal plants with therapeutic value may create a new platform for further research to explore the potential for herbal medicine and nanoscience as effective biomedical and industrial applications, and for improving existing drug delivery systems in diabetic patients. Investigations into the cytotoxicity of these extracts and phytosynthesised nanoparticles is recommended. / M

Orientador: Rogério Teixeira de Faria / Coorientador: Luiz Fabiano Palaretti / Banca: Bruno Patias Lena / Banca: Rogério Falleiros Carvalho / Resumo: O manjericão (Ocimum basilicum L.) é uma planta aromática, utilizada pra fins medicinais e condimentares, sendo uma importante fonte de renda para pequenos agricultores. Devido à escassez de informações sobre o comportamento agronômico da cultura, objetivou-se neste trabalho analisar o crescimento e consumo de água pela cultura do manjericão sob diferentes regimes hídricos. O experimento foi conduzido em vasos, sob estufa agrícola, submetidos à reposição total (100%ETm) e parciaria (75 e 50%ETm) da evapotranspiração máxima diária da cultura (ETm), medida por meio de lisímetros de pesagem. Os lisímetros foram previamente calibrados, apresentando linearidade e alta correlação da massa em resposta à voltagem. Foram avaliadas semanalmente, até os 49 dias após transplantio, variáveis biométricas de crescimento das plantas, o consumo hídrico e o coeficiente de cultivo. A evapotranspiração acumulada da cultura para o ciclo foi de 471, 352 e 236 mm, e as taxas diárias variaram de 4,8 a 9,4; 4 a 8,1 e 3,7 a 7,4 mm dia-1, para as reposições de 100, 75 e 50%ETm, respectivamente. O coeficiente de cultivo variou de 1,5 a 2,8; sendo relacionado com os dias após transplantio, índice de área foliar, razão de cobertura e graus-dia acumulados. Os regimes hídricos aplicados não apresentaram efeitos estatisticamente significativos nas variáveis de crescimento da cultura, e a produtividade da água foi mais eficiente no tratamento com 50%ETm. Conclui-se que a cultura do manjericão, quando cultiva... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an aromatic plant used for medicinal and seasoning purposes, being an important income source for small farmers. Due to the scarcity of information on the agronomic behavior of the crop, the The objective of this work was to analyze the growth and consumption of water by basil culture under different water regimes. The experiment was conducted in pots, under greenhouse condition, submitted to the total (100% ETm) and partial (75 and 50% ETm) water replacement of the maximum daily evapotranspiration of the crop (ETm), measured by weighing lysimeters. The lysimeters were previously calibrated, presenting linearity and high correlation of the mass in response to the voltage. Biometric variables of plant growth, as well as the plant water consumption and crop coefficient were evaluated weekly, up to 49 days after transplanting. Accumulated crop evapotranspiration for the cycle was 471, 352 and 236 mm, and daily rates ranged from 4.8 to 9.4; 4 to 8,1 and 3,7 to 7,4 mm dia-1, for of 100, 75 and 50% ETm water replacment, respectively. The crop coefficient ranged from 1.5 to 2.8; being related to the days after transplanting, leaf area index, coverage ratio and cumulative degrees-day. The applied water level replacement did not present statistically significant effects on the crop growth variables, and the water productivity was more efficient in the treatment with 50% ETm. It is concluded that the basil culture, when cultivated in a pot under masonry ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 108 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-99).

The purpose of this investigation is to decipher the secret code of Basil that I discovered in the prologue of the Spanish edition of Aesop's Fables called Esopete ystoriado (1482), and to bring to light the importance of its resolution for the history of literature as well as for the history of science. This code states that the fables are more profitable if understood in accordance with the doctrine of Basil. After years of investigation, I came to the conclusion that Basil's doctrine can refer either to Saint Basil the Great's fourth-century treatise Oratio ad adolescentes de legendis antiquorum seu gentilium libris in which he instructs young catechumens how best to profit from an inquiry into the content and meaning of pagan literature, or to Basil Valentine's chemistry text The Triumphant Chariot of Antimony which established in Germany the precepts for the scientific method of the Age of the Enlightenment and therefore of modern Europe. In the meantime I found a strong relationship between both texts; in fact, Basil Valentine's book is based on Saint Basil's treatise, information that has been hidden for more than six centuries by a lineage of secret societies. My research focuses on how a treatise about literary interpretation written by one of the ancient fathers of the Catholic Church became the model for one of the most important scientific books in pre-modern Europe, discovering with my inquiry the important role that the Benedictine Order as well as the secret society of the Rose Cross played in that achievement. This investigation also led me to the realization that the chemist Basil Valentine was in fact the German Abbot Johann Trithemius (1462-1516), and that the Esopete ystoriado was translated from Latin to Castilian by Gonzalo García de Santa María (1447-1521), concluding that it is impossible to separate the history of literature from the history of science.

Thesis (M.A.)--Wesley Biblical Seminary, 1994. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-109).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Catholic University of America. / "Select bibliography": p. xiii-xiv.

Inaug.-Diss.--Göttingen, 1908.

Föreliggande studie syftar till att undersöka vilka pedagogiska diskurser som framträder när samhällskunskapslärare på en västsvensk gymnasieskola talar om hur de undervisar om demokrati samt vilka diskurser som framträder genom undervisningens examinationsuppgifter. Det empiriska materialet består av semistrukturerade intervjuer med fem samhällskunskapslärare samt av de prov som syftar till att examinera demokrati. Detta material analyseras sedan tematiskt med hjälp utav Basil Bernsteins teorier om bland annat den pedagogiska diskursen, vilket utgör föreliggande studies teoretiska ramverk.  Resultatet visar att undervisningen i demokrati ser olika ut på en och samma skola beroende på vem det är som undervisar. Till största del innehåller den pedagogisk diskursen en horisontell kunskapsstruktur vilket visar sig i framförallt lärarnas examinationsuppgifter, men också till viss del i deras egna utsagor. Uppsatsen visar också att skillnader i elevsyn mellan lärare påverkar undervisningen i olika riktningar. Vidare argumenteras det för att det existerar olika diskursiva grupptillhörigheter på en västsvensk gymnasieskola, men att det finns en dominerande kommunikativ och ämneskonceptuell diskurs som de flesta samhällslärare verkar inom.

Denna uppsats tar upp fenomenet läxor ur elevers perspektiv. Läxan upplevs av många som en självklarhet, detta trots att läxor inte tas upp i de styrdokument som finns kopplade till skolan idag. Syftet med uppsatsen är att utveckla en förståelse för hur elever med olika socioekonomiska bakgrunder upplever och förhåller sig till läxor i sin hemmiljö. Genom samtalsintervjuer med elever har vi undersökt hur dessa upplever sina läxor. Resultatet från samtalsintervjuerna har vi tolkat och analyserat med hjälp av Basil Bernsteins teori om sociolingvistiska koder samt tidigare forskning inom området. Uppsatsens tydligaste slutsatser är att eleverna upplever att läxor tar tid från elevernas fritid samt att syftena som eleverna upplever med läxan rör att eleverna ska lära sig kunskap. Vi har visat att samtliga elever har någon form av interaktion när det gäller läxläsningen i hemmiljön. Vi har även visat att elever från skolan med ett upptagningsområde som bland annat har en högre medelinkomst än den andra skolan förutsätts ta ett större ansvar för sina läxor.