A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Pharmacy June 2019 / Propolis is a resinous substance produced by the Apis mellifera bee. The compounds predominantly found in South African propolis are the flavonoids pinocembrin, galangin, and chrysin. The aim of this study was to obtain an understanding of the antimicrobial activity of these compounds, both singularly and in combination, and to investigate the role of interactions between the compounds. To observe the effects of the compounds against planktonic micro-organisms, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) assays were undertaken. Combinations were tested at equal ratios using the MIC assay, the results of which were interpreted using the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. Varied ratio combinations using the MIC method were also undertaken and presented in isobolograms. Results from six bacterial strains and three yeast strains demonstrated that the singular compounds displayed moderate to weak activity, and that the activity of pinocembrin, galangin, and chrysin was improved when used in combination. When tested at 1:1 ratio, synergy occurred in six out of the 27 combinations (22%) whilst nine combinations (30%) were additive, and the remaining 12 combinations (44%) were non-interactive. No combination showed antagonism. The 1:1 combination of galangin and chrysin appeared to be the most effective, as it was synergistic against three of the nine micro-organisms (33%) tested, and additive against another three. Pinocembrin, galangin, and chrysin were then tested at varying ratio combinations against three micro-organisms, which produced nine isobolograms and a total of 81 ratios. From these 81 ratios, 32 ratios (40%) showed synergy, while 31 ratios (38%) were additive and the remaining 18 ratios (22%) were non-interactive. The combination of galangin and chrysin against C. tropicalis displayed the best activity, as all nine ratios of these two compounds in combination, showed synergy. The triple combination which used pinocembrin, galangin, and chrysin at a 1:1:1 ratio against nine pathogens, produced synergy against six of the nine micro-organisms (67%) tested and additivity against the remaining three (33%) micro-organisms. Selected combinations 4 possessed bactericidal activity, although the compounds on their own demonstrated no bactericidal activity at the concentrations tested. The most pronounced bactericidal activity was observed from the combination of galangin with chrysin against Candida tropicalis, with an MBC value of 0.16 mg/ml. Anti-quorum sensing (QS) testing was undertaken using Chromobacterium violaceum as a monitor strain. The broth macrodilution method was used. In addition, an anti-QS broth microdilution method was tested for the first time in this study. Results from the broth macrodilution method showed that pinocembrin, galangin and chrysin, and their combinations, were capable of inhibiting violacein production from C. violaceum. When tested singularly, pinocembrin, galangin and chrysin all showed minimum quorum sensing inhibitory concentration (MQSIC) values of 0.31 mg/ml or less, and MBC values of 2.5 mg/ml or less. When tested together, the combinations of pinocembrin, galangin and chrysin showed MQSIC values of 0.16 mg/ml or less, and MBC values of 1.25 mg/ml or less. The combination of pinocembrin and galangin was the most promising, with a MQSIC value of 0.08 mg/ml and an MBC values of 0.31 mg/ml. Three out of four combinations (75%) demonstrated synergy through inhibiting QS, while the combination of pinocembrin and chrysin was additive. Results from the broth microdilution method corresponded with those of the macrodilution method qualitatively, although the quantitative results differed. To assess the effects of pinocembrin, galangin and chrysin on biofilm prevention and disruption, the crystal violet (CV) assay was used. No clear pattern on antibiofilm activity was observed, although selected compounds and combinations were shown to be effective in inhibiting biofilms. Good biofilm inhibitory activity was noted for 18 out of 45 (40%) of the studies when the compounds were tested independently against the three micro-organisms at various timeframes. The best activity from a single compound was observed for chrysin against Escherichia coli at 24 hr (79.73% inhibition). When the compounds were tested in combination at a 1:1 ratio, only nine out of 60 (15%) combinations tested showed good inhibitory activity. However, the triple combination showed the best inhibitory activity of 100% when tested against E. coli at 24 hrs. The toxicity of pinocembrin, galangin and chrysin was screened using the brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA) after an exposure period of 24 hr. None of the compounds or combinations displayed 5 toxicity. When tested independently, the highest percentage mortality was noted from galangin, at 23.53%. When the compounds were tested in combination, the highest percentage mortality was observed for the combination of galangin and chrysin, at 6.17%. Three of the four combinations showed reduced toxicity. This study has clearly demonstrated that the combination of the compounds pinocembrin, galangin and chrysin found in South African propolis synergistically enhances the antimicrobial activity of South African propolis on a number of levels whilst simultaneously further reducing the toxicity of the compounds. Furthermore, this study provides a convincing example of the need to examine compound interactions and to not always follow the reductionist approach of searching for a single active compound in natural product research. / E.K. 2019

Inaug.-Diss.--Marburg. / Lebenslauf. "Separat-Abdruck aus den Zoologischen Jahrbüchern, Bd. 22, Abt. f. Anatomie." Literaturverzeichnis": p. 39-40.

Inaug.-Diss.--Marburg. / Lebenslauf. "Separat-Abdruck aus den Zoologischen Jahrbüchern, Bd. 22, Abt. f. Anatomie." Literaturverzeichnis": p. 39-40.

The role of the queen in wax secretion and comb building was studied in the the Cape honeybee, Apis mellifera capensis (Escholtz). The percentage of bees bearing wax and the amount of wax borne by these bees did not differ between the experiments. This meant that the queenless and queenright colonies had the potential to construct equal amounts of comb as the amounts of wax available for comb building was the same. Contrary to this prediction, queenright colonies constructed 8 times more comb than their queenless counterparts. Queenright Apis mellifera scutellata colonies constructed 4 times more comb than their queenless counterparts. The increased amount of 9-oxo-2-decanoic acid (90DA) in the A.m.capensis mandibular gland secretions could not alone account for this difference. In fact, A.m.capensis and A.m.scutellata colonies constructed similar amounts of comb when they were given their own queens or queens from the other race. Worker bees need to have direct contact with their queen for comb building to be enhanced. Even when the queen had her mandibular glands extirpated and tergite glands occluded large amounts of comb were constructed than when access to the queen was limited. Direct access to the head of a mated queen proved to be the stimulus enhancing comb building. No comb was constructed when the workers had access to the abdomen of the queen. Virgin queens did not stimulate comb building. The relatively large amounts of 90DA and 9HDA from the mandibular glands of Cape virgin queens had not influenced comb building. Worker sized cells were generally constructed. These cells were slightly smaller than those constructed by European honeybees, but were indicative of African bees. A few queen less colonies constructed cells that were of an intermediate drone and worker size. Four mandibular gland pneromones were measured by gas chromatography. No correlations between these pheromones and the comb construction measurements were found. It is unlikely that the mandibular gland pheromones are the only pheromones that stimulate comb building. Pheromones from other glands on the head may contribute towards the enhancement of comb building, and they are not present in virgin queens

Orientador: Lúcia Eustáchio Fonseca Ribeiro / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Artes / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T23:32:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carvalho_YulyAlejandraMartyLocattode_M.pdf: 5899140 bytes, checksum: 5e1ed5c3736601165aa0df8886e85fe4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: A presente pesquisa resgata meu percurso artístico que está estritamente ligado à palavra escrita que para se constituir incorpora atualmente materiais externos provenientes da apicultura. Para reflexionar sobre estes aspectos, foram levantadas todas as circunstâncias construtivas que originam a produção atual, evidenciando e analisando as distintas situações de sua práxis e processo criativo que se colocam de maneira sensível no transcurso poético do trabalho. Aqui minha intenção é fazer uma tentativa de organizar estas sensações subjetivas e por vezes muito pessoais, em relações mais reflexivas que orientem a novas possibilidades de pensar a escrita quando se apresenta em um trabalho artístico / Abstract: This research rescues my artistic journey that is closely linked to the written word that to be currently incorporates external materials from apiculture. To reflect on these aspects were raised all constructive circumstances that lead the current production, showing and analyzing the different situations of professional practice and creative process posed in a sensible way on the poetic course of work. Here my intention is make an attempt to organize these subjective sensations and, sometimes very personal, in more reflexive relations that guide the new possibilities of thinking about writing when presented in an artistic work / Mestrado / Artes Visuais / Mestra em Artes Visuais

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy / In this dissertation the physical and chemical alterations induced by mastication and manipulation of wax by the worker bee in honeycomb construction, and the subsequent contribution afforded the structural integrity of the nest, are elucidated. In comb building, the freshly secreted wax scales are mandibulated together with a frothy salivary emulsion, and added piece-meal to form honeycomb. Textural modifications were revealed using X-ray crystallography. While virgin scale wax is highly structured, with the crystallites aligned approximately perpendicular to the planar surface, comb wax has a random crystallographic arrangement. This reflects a disruption of the crystallite structure following the mechanical insult of mastication. Chemical analyses included investigation of both lipid and proteinaceous elements. Lipid composition was evaluated by enzyme-catalyzed as well as thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatographic methods. The results indicate a reduction in scale diacylglycerols with a corresponding increase in comb saturated monoaeylglycerols. Such modifications are highly suggestive of lipase activity within the salivary addition. The proteins of comb and scale wax were analyzed electrophoretically, under reduced conditions. Each wax possesses unique polypeptide fractions, in addition to sharing common protein species, It is speculated that those in common represent integral proteins, such as transport molecules, while the disparities noted may be due to salivary enzymatic degradation, or even glycosylation. The effects of these textural and chemical alterations on the mechanical behaviour of the waxes was assessed. Tensile tests were performed on a variety of scale and comb wax preparations over the range of temperatures likely to impinge on the honeybee nest. These investigations reveal the specific structural contributions made by each of the physico-chemical alterations described. Further, they demonstrate that while scales are ideal moulding materials due to their high distensibility and low stiffness, the greater resistance to deformation and lower potential for extension makes comb wax a superior structural material. The mechanical advantage for including propolis and cocoon silk within the comb structure was also investigated. Tensile testing indicates that the resultant composite material is structurally superior, largely due to the presence of silk reinforcement. / Andrew Chakane 2018

No description available.

Emulsijos yra patrauklios išvaizdos, universalūs produktai, jų naudojimas yra paprastas bei priimtinas, dėl to jos yra ypač dažnai sutinkamos dermatologijoje, gydant įvairias odos ligas. Stabilus puskietis emulsinis pagrindas iš natūralių medžiagų yra aktualus, nes turi dideles pritaikymo galimybes kosmetinių ir gydomųjų kremų gamyboje. Tyrimo objektas – puskietė emulsinė sistema vanduo aliejuje iš natūralių medžiagų su bičių vašku, kaip vaistinių medžiagų nešiklis dermatologiniams preparatams. Darbo tikslas – puskietės emulsinės sistemos vanduo aliejuje (v/a) su bičių vašku sumodeliavimas ir modelinės medžiagos – askorbo rūgšties atpalaidavimo iš sumodeliuotos sistemos įvertinimas biofarmaciniu in vitro tyrimu. Tyrimo uždaviniai: parinkti puskietės emulsinės sistemos sudėtį, remiantis ortogonaliu statistiniu planu, ir atrinkti stabilius pavyzdžius pagal pasirinktus vertinimo kriterijus (tinkamas pH, klampa, mikrostruktūra bei juslinės savybės); nustatyti puskiečių emulsinių sistemų fizikocheminius rodiklius (pH, klampą, mikrostruktūrą) bei įvertinti jų stabilumą po 1 ir 3 mėn.; įvertinti bičių vaško įtaką puskiečių emulsinių sistemų klampai, stabilumui, juslinėms savybėms bei askorbo rūgšties atpalaidavimui iš puskietės emulsinės sistemos; įvertinti modelinės medžiagos – askorbo rūgšties atpalaidavimą iš tiriamų puskiečių emulsinių sistemų, atliekant biofarmacinį tyrimą in vitro per pusiau pralaidžią membraną; atlikti emulsinės sistemos juslinių savybių ir kokybės... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Emulsion has an attractive conformation and is an universal product. It‘s usage is simple and acceptable. For this reason, it is often used in dermatology for curing different skin disease. Stable semisolid emulsion base from natural materials is relevant because it has a big variety of use in cosmetic and remedial cream production. The object of research – the system of semisolid emulsion water in oil from natural materials and beeswax as a carrier of medical materials in dermatological preparations. The aim of the work – modeling the system of semisolid emulsion water in oil with the beeswax and modeling materials as liberation ascorbic acid from simulated system and it‘s biopharmacy evaluation by in vitro research. The task of research: to choose the composition of semisolid emulsion system on the ground of orthogonal statistic plan and select stable samples according to evaluation criterion (the proper pH, viscosity, microstructure and organoleptic properties); to rate physicochemical rates of the system of semisolid emulsion (pH, viscosity, microstructure) and evaluate their stability after 1 and 3 months; to evaluate the influence of beeswax on the viscosity, stability, sensual properties and the liberation of ascorbic acid from the system of semisolid emulsion; to evaluate modeling materials – the liberation of ascorbic acid from investigative system of semisolid emulsion carrying out biopharmacy research in vitro through semi-permeable membrane; to evaluate sensual... [to full text]

No / References Citations Metrics Reprints & Permissions Get access Abstract This paper presents the observation of lipid residue, identified as beeswax, preserved in the ceramic matrix of a Late Chalcolithic (c. 3700–3000 BC) bevelled-rim bowl (BRB) from the site of Tepe Sofalin on the Tehran Plain. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to separate and identify the lipid constituents preserved in the matrix of a BRB sherd. Lipid biomarkers were recovered including long-chain n-alkanes, n-alkenes, palmitic wax monoesters, fatty acids and n-alcohols characteristic of beeswax. In addition to two disaccharides, cholesterol and β-sitosterol as contaminants were retrieved by solvent soluble extraction from a number of different locations from the ceramic matrix of the analysed sherd.

The aim of the project is to investigate how a more viscous, gel like formulation can be made of BioGaia´s Prodentis Drops, which is a probiotic product for oral use. The two different strains of Lactobacillus reuteri that are used in the product, together called L. reuteri Prodentis, have been clinically proven to be effective in treatment of gingivitis and caries formation. The existing product is a highly liquid oil suspension that has been described as too runny and difficult to get into tooth pockets and between teeth. Therefore a gel formulation would be preferred. Pre-trials were excecuted to see what combinations and quantities of ingredients could work. Three different formulations using 3 %, 5 % and 7 % beeswax as thickening agent proceeded to another round of trials, as well as one formulation where the original oil was exchanged for hydrogenated rapeseed oil. In the beeswax formulations fumed silicon dioxide was being used as well. Three different analyses were executed, considering bacterial survival, viscosity and phase separation of gels. The bacterial survival proved to be acceptable in all samples even after 14 days of incubation in 37oC. The formulation with 7 % beeswax was the most viscous one, followed by 5 % beeswax, 3 % beeswax and the formulation with hydrogenated oil, respectively. Phase separation could be seen in the hydrogenated oil formulation already after seven days and even more so after 14 days. There were also signs of separation in the formulation with 3 % beeswax after 14 days. It was concluded that in further development of the Prodentis Drops it is recommendable to proceed with the 5 % beeswax formulation.