Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 40-46). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the Dept. of Biology. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/07/24). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2006.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2008. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2007. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Tracy A.O. Dougher. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 247-258).

Cissampelos capensis L. f. (Menispermaceae) commonly known as “Mayisake” (Xhosa) and “Dawidjieswortel” (Afrikaans) is the most commonly used medicinal plant of the Menispermaceae family in South Africa. The rhizomes of Cissampelos capensis are the most used part of the plant to treat illnesses. This poses a threat to the ongoing conservation of this valuable endemic species. Thus, we studied the chemical variation and subsequently the bioactivity in the stems and rhizomes of Cissampelos capensis, the Eastern Cape medicinal plant, to suggest the possible use of the stems for medicinal purposes. We studied the variation in the chemical composition in the stems and the rhizomes by employing four different extraction methods; the methanolic-, non-polar-, alkaloidal- and Total Tertiary Alkaloidal (TTA) to extract compounds from Cissampelos capensis. Employing various chromatographic techniques, HPLC, NMR and LC/MS to investigate the chemical variation and the in vitro assays for the crude materials of the stems and rhizomes of Cissampelos capensis. We successfully documented a library of the phytochemicals content in Cissampelos capensis from three different regions in the Eastern Cape. We could profile different extraction methods, with the TTA extraction delivering the best comparative profile. Employing LC/MS and HPLC we identified eleven known alkaloidal compounds in the stems and rhizomes. We also isolated a known alkaloid, pronuciferine, from the TTA extract and a crystal structure of proto-quericitol from the methanolic extract, which was isolated for the first time from Cissampelos capensis. Preliminary in vitro results suggested anti-inflammatory activity in the methanolic extracts of the stems and rhizomes, while the TTA extracts showed some cytotoxicity. Finally, through analytical HPLC analysis this study found as high as 31% similarity between the chemical variation of the stems and rhizomes, but key alkaloids were not always present, indicating more work is needed before the stems can be recommended as a replacement for the rhizomes.

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2002. / The first objective was to investigate the effect of Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH on healthy provers and to record the signs and symptoms produced, so that it could be prescribed according to the Law of Similars, as required by homoeopathy. The second objective was to analyze the symptoms obtained from this proving according to the doctrine of signatures. It was hypothesized that Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH would produce observable signs and symptoms in healthy volunteers which would correlate to a doctrine of signatures analysis of the plant. A double blind proving of Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH was conducted. 24 provers were selected and randomly divided into two groups, the first consisted of 18 provers who received medicated powders and the second consisted of the remaining six who received placebo. The subjects were unaware of the nature of the substance that they took nor the potency thereof as an added control measure. Provers were examined and kept journals before, during and after administration of the remedy so as to serve as their own control. This information, along with data collected by the researchers from case histories and physical examination, was then assessed on completion of the proving. The researchers then translated the symptoms elicited into Materia Medica and repertory language and formulated a homoeopathic picture of this remedy. Data was analyzed by qualitative methods, as the data was not amenable to standard / M

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2002. / The purpose of this study was to determine the effect that Tulbagia violacea ethanolic herbal tincture, and Tulbagia violacea IX and 6X homoeopathic potencies, had 011 the in vitro growth inhibition of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus ourens. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacil/us cereus respectively, as compared to a ethanol negative control. The final results were expressed as a ratio to the values obtained from gentamyein and vancomycin. Measurement was by means of the discdiffusion assay. For this study fifteen Mueller-Hinton agar plates were prepared and inoculated with each test bacteria in turn. Filter paper discs were individually inoculated with the sample substances and the control using a micropipette, before being allowed to air dry, One disc each of the Tulbagia violacea herbal tincture, 1X potency, 6X potency, ethanol control, as well as a gentamyein and vancomycin disc were placed equidistantly apart on each plate, The gentamyein and vancomycin discs were included in the experiment with the sole purpose of accounting for plate-to-plate variations in the pharmacological sensitivity of the same species of bacteria, The plates were incubated at 37\xB0C, and the zones of inhibitions measured with a pair of Vernier callipers at ] 8 hour, 24 hour and 36 hour intervals. Il Data entry and analysis was done using the SPSS\xAE statistical package, The Friedman test was used for intra-group comparison of each test or control substance at 18 hours, 24 hours and 36 hours. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the mean inhibition zones produced by the test and control substance after 18 hours, 24 hours and 36 hours of incubation. The tests were performed at a=O.05 (5%) level of significance, The results obtained were that the Tulbagia violacea herbal tincture, and IX and 6X nomoeopathic potencies did not produce a statistically significant inhibitive effect on / M

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2002. / The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH on healthy provers, and to record the signs and symptoms produced, so that it may be prescribed according to the Law of Similars. A further aim of the investigation was to compare those remedies yielding the highest numerical value and total number of rubrics on repertorisation of the proving symptoms to Sutherlandia frutescens. It was hypothesised that the 30CH potency of Sutherlandia frutescens would produce clearly observable signs and symptoms in healthy provers, and that the comparison of Sutherlandia frutescens to those remedies yielding the highest numerical value and total number of rubrics on repertorisation of the proving symptoms would highlight differences and similarities between the remedy symptoms so that confusion as to indication is erased. It was hypothesised that a fuller understanding of Sutherlandia frutescens and its relationship to other remedies would be gained following this comparison. III A double blind, placebo controlled proving of Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH was conducted on twenty-four healthy volunteers who met the inclusion criteria. Six of the twenty-four provers randomly received placebo, with neither prover nor researcher knowing who was on placebo. Provers had a homoeopathic case history taken and physical examination performed on them before commencement of the proving. The provers recorded their signs and symptoms before, during and after administration of the remedy, by means of a journal. On completion of the proving, the information was correlated and assessed by the four researchers, the symptoms elicited translated into Materia Medica and Repertory language, and a homoeopathic picture of the remedy formulated. Data from the case histories, physical examinations and group discussion were also considered. / M

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004. / The first objective was to investigate the effect of Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH on healthy provers and to record the signs and symptoms produced, so that it could be prescribed according to the Law of Similars, as required by homoeopathy. The second objective was to analyze the symptoms obtained from this proving in a direct comparison to the effects of the major pharmacologically active compounds present in Sutherlandia frutescens. A double blind proving of Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH was conducted. Twenty-four provers were selected and randomly divided into two groups, those receiving medicated powders (18 subjects) and those receiving the placebo powders (6 subjects). As an added control measure, the subjects were also ignorant to both the nature of the proving substance and the administered potency. Prior to taking the remedy, each patient provided their own case history and received a physical examination so as to establish each individual's baseline. Each prover was then required to keep a daily journal, in which all symptoms were recorded in accordance with a suggested guide. The researchers then collated the data and translated the symptoms produced into Materia Medica and repertory language. Finally a homoeopathic picture of the remedy emerged in which marked themes exist. These themes and central characteristics of the remedy were then compared to the toxicology of the major chemical constituents of Sutherlandia frutescens. Data was analyzed by / M