The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavioural effects of inhaled bergamot, geranium and a combination of these oils in three novelty evoked tests of anxiety. Sixty adult Hooded Rats (Rattus norvegicus), with 10 rats randomly assigned to one of the 6 test groups; three essential oil treated groups, and three control groups. The essential oil groups consisted of bergamot, geranium and a combined group, i.e. the combination of bergamot and geranium oil. The control groups consisted of the odour and vehicle control, with the anxiolytic drug diazepam as a positive control. The behaviour of rats was assessed on the elevate-plus maze, open-field and social interaction test. Diazepam increased open arm entries and the time spent in the open arms, decreased time spent in closed arms and increased the number of head-dips and unprotected stretch-attends in the EPM. In the open-field diazepam increased immobility time, decreased ambulation, increased grooming activity and reduced the amount of time spent exploring the arena. Similarly, diazepam decreased the frequency of separations, sniffs, follows, crawls, passive and active interactions with test partners in the social interaction test. Bergamot, geranium and the combination of the two oils increased total arm entries in the elevated-plus maze. Bergamot increased locomotion and exploratory behaviour in open-field and decreased contact latency and increased passive and active interaction between the rat pairs in the social interaction test. Geranium decrease immobility and increase the time spent rearing in the open-field and also increased active interaction, i.e. partner sniffing and decreased the amount of time the rat pairs spent apart in the social interaction test. The combination of bergamot and geranium oil increased locomotion and the time spent in Zone2, and also increased exploratory behaviour, i.e. the frequency and duration of rears in the open-field. In the social interaction test, contact latency was shortened and active and passive interactions between rat pairs were increased by the combination of essential oils. The present study established that bergamot, geranium, and the combination of the two oils had a stimulating effect in the elevated-plus maze and an anxiolytic effect in the open-field and social interaction tests when inhaled. Furthermore the study also demonstrated that the combining of the oils had a potentiating effect on the anxiolytic properties of the single oils.

<p>Biofuels are a developing kind of fuel whose origin is biomass. Among them, many different kind of fuels can be found: bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel, vegetable oils, biomethanol, pyrolysis oils, biogas, and biohydrogen. This thesis work is focused on the production of biodiesel, which can be used in diesel engines as a substitute for mineral diesel. Biodiesel is obtained from different kinds of oils, both from vegetable and animal sources. However, vegetable oils are preferred because they tend to be liquid at room temperature.</p><p>The process to obtain biodiesel implies first a reaction between the oil and an alcohol, using a catalyst and then a sedimentation, where the biodiesel and the glycerol, the two products that are obtained, can be separated because of their difference in density. After the separation, raw biodiesel is obtained and a treatment with either water bubbling or dry cleaning products is needed to obtain the product which will be ready to use.</p><p>Many methods are available for the production of biodiesel, most of them require heat for the transesterification reaction, which converts the oil into biodiesel. Apart from that, in many cases biodiesel is produced by big companies or by individuals but using complicated and expensive installations.</p><p>This work is an attempt to develop a way of producing biodiesel without any use of external heat, using a simple procedure which could be used by people with a low knowledge of chemistry or chemical processes. It also seeks to set an example on how biodiesel can be easily made by oneself without the use of any industrial systems, with a low budget and limited need of supervision over the process.</p><p>In order to achieve that, many trials were undertaken, introducing changes in the different parameters that are responsible for the changes in the final product. Among them, changes in the amount and type of catalyst, the way the catalyst is added, the type of oil used, the time of reaction and the temperature were made. Apart from that, different types of cleaning were tried, starting by water cleaning and then using powder type products, Magnesol, D-Sol and Aerogel. A centrifuge was also tried to test its utility when separating impurities from liquids or different liquid phases. The results of the different trials were analysed using various tests, the most important being the 3:27 test, the solubility test, the soap titration and pH measurements.</p><p>To sum up, it could be said that the investigation was a success, since it was proved that biodiesel can be made without the use of any external heat with both alkali and acid catalysts, as well as with different ways of adding the catalyst. As for the cleaning, good results were obtained with both dry products and water cleaning, since the soap content of the biodiesel was reduced in both cases. Apart from that, the centrifuge proved to be valid to eliminate impurities from raw oil.</p>

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (February 9, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

In the current research, oil derived from several Brassica species, and related oilseeds, was investigated for use as a lubricant base-oil. Oils obtained from B. rapa L. were selected because of their superior cold temperature performance over Sinapis alba L., B. carinata A., B. napus, and B. juncea L. The commercial antiwear additive zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) was added (800 ppm) to B. rapa oils to determine the impact on oxidative stability and lubricity. It was found that the B. rapa oil ACS-C7 had a low cloud and pour point. B. rapa oils had poor oxidative stability at 97.8 °C when compared to a mineral oil (petroleum-based) standard. ZDDP had little effect on oxidative stability and cloud point. It was concluded that B. rapa oils have sufficient low temperature performance for use as a lubricant base oil. However, for continued use in a motor oil formulation, further modification of the oxidative stability will be necessary. All B. rapa oils with and without ZDDP were subjected to lubricity testing in a Plint High Frequency Wear Tester (TE-77). Lubricity testing simulates the high temperature and pressure in a motor system. The coefficient of friction and resultant wear scar width were measured. B. rapa oils lower coefficients of friction and decrease wear scar widths when compared with a mineral oil standard. Addition of ZDDP to B. rapa oils slightly increased lubricity performance of the oils. The wear scars produced on the polished stainless steel disk were subjected to X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) analysis using two synchrotron beamlines at the Canadian Light Source. XANES analysis confirmed the presence of a lubricating tribofilm on the surface of the stainless steel disks following B. rapa lubricity testing. These results indicate that B. rapa oils are suitable candidates as lubricant base oils for motor oil formulation.

Biofuels are a developing kind of fuel whose origin is biomass. Among them, many different kind of fuels can be found: bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel, vegetable oils, biomethanol, pyrolysis oils, biogas, and biohydrogen. This thesis work is focused on the production of biodiesel, which can be used in diesel engines as a substitute for mineral diesel. Biodiesel is obtained from different kinds of oils, both from vegetable and animal sources. However, vegetable oils are preferred because they tend to be liquid at room temperature. The process to obtain biodiesel implies first a reaction between the oil and an alcohol, using a catalyst and then a sedimentation, where the biodiesel and the glycerol, the two products that are obtained, can be separated because of their difference in density. After the separation, raw biodiesel is obtained and a treatment with either water bubbling or dry cleaning products is needed to obtain the product which will be ready to use. Many methods are available for the production of biodiesel, most of them require heat for the transesterification reaction, which converts the oil into biodiesel. Apart from that, in many cases biodiesel is produced by big companies or by individuals but using complicated and expensive installations. This work is an attempt to develop a way of producing biodiesel without any use of external heat, using a simple procedure which could be used by people with a low knowledge of chemistry or chemical processes. It also seeks to set an example on how biodiesel can be easily made by oneself without the use of any industrial systems, with a low budget and limited need of supervision over the process. In order to achieve that, many trials were undertaken, introducing changes in the different parameters that are responsible for the changes in the final product. Among them, changes in the amount and type of catalyst, the way the catalyst is added, the type of oil used, the time of reaction and the temperature were made. Apart from that, different types of cleaning were tried, starting by water cleaning and then using powder type products, Magnesol, D-Sol and Aerogel. A centrifuge was also tried to test its utility when separating impurities from liquids or different liquid phases. The results of the different trials were analysed using various tests, the most important being the 3:27 test, the solubility test, the soap titration and pH measurements. To sum up, it could be said that the investigation was a success, since it was proved that biodiesel can be made without the use of any external heat with both alkali and acid catalysts, as well as with different ways of adding the catalyst. As for the cleaning, good results were obtained with both dry products and water cleaning, since the soap content of the biodiesel was reduced in both cases. Apart from that, the centrifuge proved to be valid to eliminate impurities from raw oil.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Thesis ( Ph.D. ) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Abstract Aims: Due to the emergence of multi-drug resistance, alternatives to conventional antimicrobial therapy are needed. This study aims to investigate the in vitro pharmacological interactions between essential oils (considered valuable as natural therapeutic treatments) and conventional antimicrobials (ciprofloxacin ⁄ amphotericin B) when used in combination. Methods and Results: Interactions of the essential oils (Melaleuca alternifolia, Thymus vulgaris, Mentha piperita and Rosmarinus officinalis) when combined with ciprofloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus indicate mainly antagonistic profiles. When tested against Klebsiella pneumoniae the isobolograms show antagonistic, synergistic and additive interactions depending on the combined ratio. The R. officinalis ⁄ ciprofloxacin combination against K. pneumoniae displayed the most favourable synergistic pattern. The interactions of M. alternifolia (tea tree), T. vulgaris (thyme), M. piperita (peppermint) and R. officinalis (rosemary) essential oils with amphotericin B indicate mainly antagonistic profiles when tested against Candida albicans. Conclusion: While a number of interactions show complete antagonism, others show varied (synergistic, additive and ⁄ or antagonistic) interactions, thus the efficacy is dependent on the ratio in which the two components co-exist. Significance and Impact of the Study: The predominant antagonistic interactions noted here, suggests that some natural therapies containing essential oils should be used with caution when combined with antibiotics.