Despite being a common childhood complaint there is little research on growing pains. Existing research is inconsistent with regard to sample selection and prevalence rates. There are only two English language intervention studies, and with the exception of associations noted in prevalence research, there has been no systematic research on the potential impact of growing pains on daily activities. Lack of a universal definition of growing pains poses difficulty for both diagnosis and research. The purposes of the current investigation were to propose a definition of growing pains grounded in literature and clinical practice, to develop a conceptual model of growing pains, and to understand childrens experiences with growing pains. A mixed-method research program involved four phases. In phase I, a survey of physicians indicated the following definition of growing pains: Intermittent pain of unknown etiology, occurring nocturnally in the lower limbs. Features that may occur in some cases, but not part of the definition, include arm pain and daytime pain. In phase II, non-parametric statistical analyses of child, familial, and environmental variables in a rheumatology clinic database were conducted to determine potential risk factors for growing pains. Logistic regression modeling indicated an association between growing pains and maternal illness or rash during the pregnancy, maternal smoking during the pregnancy, delayed pull to standing (i.e., greater than age 10 months), and family histories of back pain and arthritis. Potential mechanisms for these empirical associations are explored. In phase III, qualitative interviews with children were conducted to develop a grounded theory of how children process their experiences. Children engaged in a process of evaluating their current and past experiences of growing pains to determine how to manage specific pain episodes. Their evaluation was influenced by how they understood their pain which in turn was influenced by their intrapersonal and interpersonal experiences. Phase IV integrated results and existing literature to develop a conceptual model of growing pains which outlines characteristic features, predisposing factors, triggers, alleviating actions, and associated psychosocial features. Implications of the process theory and the conceptual model of growing pains with regard to clinical practice and future research are discussed.

Despite being a common childhood complaint there is little research on growing pains. Existing research is inconsistent with regard to sample selection and prevalence rates. There are only two English language intervention studies, and with the exception of associations noted in prevalence research, there has been no systematic research on the potential impact of growing pains on daily activities. Lack of a universal definition of growing pains poses difficulty for both diagnosis and research. The purposes of the current investigation were to propose a definition of growing pains grounded in literature and clinical practice, to develop a conceptual model of growing pains, and to understand childrens experiences with growing pains. A mixed-method research program involved four phases. In phase I, a survey of physicians indicated the following definition of growing pains: Intermittent pain of unknown etiology, occurring nocturnally in the lower limbs. Features that may occur in some cases, but not part of the definition, include arm pain and daytime pain. In phase II, non-parametric statistical analyses of child, familial, and environmental variables in a rheumatology clinic database were conducted to determine potential risk factors for growing pains. Logistic regression modeling indicated an association between growing pains and maternal illness or rash during the pregnancy, maternal smoking during the pregnancy, delayed pull to standing (i.e., greater than age 10 months), and family histories of back pain and arthritis. Potential mechanisms for these empirical associations are explored. In phase III, qualitative interviews with children were conducted to develop a grounded theory of how children process their experiences. Children engaged in a process of evaluating their current and past experiences of growing pains to determine how to manage specific pain episodes. Their evaluation was influenced by how they understood their pain which in turn was influenced by their intrapersonal and interpersonal experiences. Phase IV integrated results and existing literature to develop a conceptual model of growing pains which outlines characteristic features, predisposing factors, triggers, alleviating actions, and associated psychosocial features. Implications of the process theory and the conceptual model of growing pains with regard to clinical practice and future research are discussed.

No description available.

Emotions remain notably underexplored in both criminology and prisons research. This thesis sets out to address this problem by centralizing the importance of emotions in prison: especially the way prisoners express and regulate their affective states. To collect the data, 25 male and 25 female prisoners were 'shadowed', observed and interviewed across two prisons (HMP Send and HMP Ranby). Based on these findings, this thesis describes the emotional world of prisoners and their various 'affective' strategies. The three substantive chapters reveal the textured layers and various emotional states experienced by prisoners: first, at the level of the self (psychological); second, as existing between groups (social emotions); and, third, in relation to the physical environment (spatial). An individual substantive chapter is dedicated to each of these three levels of analysis. A primary finding was the prevalence of a wide range of 'emotion management' strategies among prisoners. One such strategy was emotion suppression, which was extremely salient among both men and women. While this emotion suppression was, in part, a product of pre-prison experiences it was also strongly influenced by institutional practices. Importantly, there was a strong correlation between prisoners who suppressed emotions and who were subsequently involved in violence (towards others, or inflicted upon themselves). A second key finding was the wide range of emotions that exist within, and are shaped by, different prison spaces-previous accounts have described prison as emotionally sterile, or characterised by anxiety and fear but this study develops the idea that prisons have an 'emotional geography' or affective 'map'. The study findings have implications for the 'emotional survivability' of our prisons; the need to open legitimate channels for emotional expression; and designing prisoners that are supportive, safe and secure establishments for prisoners to live in.

No description available.

La question du bien-être des animaux d’élevage et plus particulièrement celle de la douleur fait l’objet d’une attente sociétale grandissante. Cependant, l’évaluation de la douleur chez l’animal, et par voie de conséquence de l’efficacité des traitements antalgiques, reste très complexe en médecine vétérinaire, en expérimentation ou en élevage. Elle s’appuie principalement sur les modifications de comportement ou de paramètres physiologiques du système nerveux autonome, de l’axe hypothalamo-hypophysaire ou encore des processus inflammatoires. Néanmoins, les indicateurs généralement utilisés ne sont pas tous spécifiques de la douleur "ressentie" par l'animal mais peuvent également indiquer un niveau de stress ou de perturbations physiologiques et métaboliques liés au traumatisme. Chez les carnivores domestiques ou les chevaux, une approche combinant des indicateurs spécifiques de chacune des voies sollicitées dans les processus douloureux a été développée. Aucune démarche équivalente n'a été validée chez les animaux de rente. Cette thèse conduite sur ovin et bovin avait pour objectifs : 1) de développer une approche multiparamétrique d'évaluation de la douleur, ou de situations potentiellement douloureuses, 2) de tester ses performances dans différentes situations considérées douloureuses (douleurs somatiques et/ou viscérale : mammites, castration et pose de canules digestives), et 3) sur la base de cette approche d’évaluer l'efficacité de protocoles antalgiques utilisés en élevage ou en expérimentation animale. Nous montrons que (i) l’approche multiparamétrique est plus performante qu’une approche voie par voie, (ii) les modifications du comportement, de l’axe hypothalamo-hypophysaire et de l’inflammation discriminent des situations potentiellement douloureuses quel que soit le type de douleur alors que les modifications liées au stress oxydant sont davantage liées aux situations présentant des douleurs d'origine viscérale et somatique, (iii) l’approche multiparamétrique différencie les périodes les plus critiques à prendre en charge en fonction de la douleur ressentie et (iv) il est possible de proposer des ajustements des traitements antalgiques en utilisant les renseignements fournis par chacune des voies évaluées. En prenant en compte l'ensemble des principales voies impliquées dans les processus douloureux, l’évaluation de la douleur ressentie, peut donc être plus sensible et spécifique. Néanmoins, l’approche multiparamétrique gagnera à être simplifiée et devra être validée dans d'autres situations douloureuses, notamment dans le cas de douleurs neuropathique, avant d'être proposée sur le terrain aux vétérinaires, éleveurs ou expérimentateurs. / There is a growing societal concern regarding farm animal welfare and especially pain assessment. However, pain assessment in animals and the efficiency of analgesic treatments remains very complex in veterinary medicine, animal experimentation or farming. Pain assessment is mainly based on behavioural changes or physiological responses related to the autonomic nervous system, hypothalamic-pituitary axis or inflammatory processes. Nevertheless, the indicators usually used do not always reflect pain experienced by animals but can also reflect the level of stress or physiological and metabolic disturbances related to trauma. Combinations of pathway-specific indicators involved in pain have been developed in various animal species (carnivore pets and horses), but no equivalent approach has been validated for farm ruminants yet. The main objectives of this thesis were 1) to develop a multiparametric approach to assess pain in sheep and cattle, 2) to test its performances in different painful situations (somatic and/or visceral pain: mastitis, castration and digestive cannulas), and 3) to assess the efficiency of analgesic treatments currently used in farming or research. We showed that (i) the multiparametric approach is more efficient than a single pathway approach (ii) changes in behaviour, hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and inflammation discriminate potentially painful situations regardless of the type of pain, whereas changes related to oxidative stress are related to visceral and somatic painful situations, (iii) the multiparametric approach differentiates the most critical periods requiring specific pain management (to be managed according to the pain), and (iv) it is possible to adjust the analgesic treatments according to the information provided by the assessment of each pathway. In conclusion, taking into account the main pathways involved in painful processes, allows a more sensitive and specific pain evaluation. Further research should aim at simplifying the multiparametric approach and validating it against other painful situation (especially neurological pain) before proposing it for practical-use on field by veterinarians, farmers and researchers.

Les douleurs abdominales, principale cause de consultation en gastroentérologie, sont souvent le reflet d’un dysfonctionnement du tractus gastro‐intestinal, parfois responsable d’un Syndrome de l’Intestin Irritable (SII) ou d’une Maladie Inflammatoire Chronique de l’Intestin (MICI). Ces deux types de pathologies ont des caractéristiques bien distinctes (inflammation sévère avec des phases de poussée et de rémission dans le cas des MICI, absentes dans le SII). Cependant elles ont aussi des caractéristiques communes comme le développement d’une hypersensibilité colique (HSC), visible pendant les phases de rémission des MICI. Cette hypersensibilité, dont la physiopathologie est encore mal connue, entraîne une altération de la qualité de vie des patients. Il paraît donc nécessaire de comprendre les mécanismes qui sous‐tendent son apparition, son développement et son maintien, afin de développer des stratégies thérapeutiques adaptées. Les canaux ioniques sont des cibles intéressantes pour cela. Deux ont particulièrement retenu notre attention : le canal ASIC3 (Acid Sensing Ion Channels), sensible à l’acidose tissulaire et impliqué dans de nombreux processus physiopathologiques douloureux et le canal calcique Cav3.2 (voltage‐gated calcium channel) impliqué dans la mécanoperception physiologique et physiopathologique. Dans une première partie, nous avons évalué le rôle des sous‐unités ASIC3 dans l’hypersensibilité colique. Pour cela, nous avons utilisé plusieurs modèles animaux mimant une hypersensibilité colique de diverses origines chez des animaux déficients pour le canal ASIC3 et leurs littermates. Le premier modèle utilisait du DSS à deux concentrations : 0.5% et 1% induisant une hypersensibilité colique respectivement sans et avec inflammation. Le deuxième modèle mimait une hypersensibilité colique induite par une infection gastro‐intestinale. Pour cela, nous avons utilisé une bactérie AIEC (Adherent Invasive Escerichia Coli) de souche LF82 anormalement présente chez les patients atteints de la maladie de Crohn. Nous avons mis en évidence que le canal ASIC3 est impliqué dans la mise en place de l’Hypersensibilité Viscérale d’origine Colique (HSVC) dans ces deux modèles, et que la délétion de cette sous‐unité entraîne une moindre inflammation colique. Dans un dernier modèle, pour déterminer si ces résultats au niveau colique étaient transposables au cas d’une hypersensibilté viscérale d’origine différente, nous avons choisi un modèle de cystite pour lequel nous n’avons pas pu mettre en évidence une implication de la sous‐unité ASIC3. Dans une deuxième partie, nous avons travaillé sur le canal calcique Cav3.2, déjà étudié au laboratoire, et qui n’avait pas montré d’implication dans les douleurs viscérales inflammatoires. Son implication dans l’HSC non inflammatoire a été étudiée à travers deux modèles : le modèle de DSS 0.5% et le modèle de séparation maternelle. Une absence d’hypersensibilité chez les animaux déficients pour ce canal a été mise en évidence, et nous avons trouvé une implication de ce canal calcique chez des patients atteints du SII. La dernière partie de ce travail s’est intéressée à une nouvelle cible pouvant être impliquée dans la perception des stimuli mécaniques au niveau colique, le facteur de transcription EGR‐4. Ce facteur de transcription appartient à la famille des protéines en doigts de zinc et est extrêmement conservé entre les êtres vivants ; il est impliqué dans de nombreuses cascades de signalisations cellulaires. Une équipe clermontoise a montré son implication dans la mécanoperception chez la plante. Nous avons donc voulu savoir si cette implication était transposable à la souris et nos travaux se sont alors concentrés sur le côlon et sur l’implication de ce facteur lors d’une stimulation mécanique. Il est principalement exprimé au niveau des cellules musculaires lisses et est surexprimé au niveau du côlon dans le cas d’une stimulation mécanique. / Abdominal pain is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorder which accounts for the majority ofconsultations in general practice and half of those in gastroenterology. They often reflect a dysfunction ofthe gastrointestinal tract may be responsible for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or chronic inflammatorybowel disease (IBD). Despite significant differences particularly illustrated by a severe inflammatoryphenomenon associated with IBD which is not observed in IBS, these pathologies share colonichypersensitivity (CHS) as a common feature. This hypersensitivity whose pathophysiology is still poorlyunderstood, results in impaired quality of life of patients. It therefore seems necessary to be able tounderstand the mechanisms that underlie the emergence, development and maintenance of the HSC todevelop appropriate therapeutic strategies. Ion channels are attractive targets because of their critical role insynaptic transmission of sensory information. Two of them in particular caught our attention: ASIC3 channel(Acid Sensing Ion Channels), sensitive to tissue acidosis and involved in many pathophysiological processesand painful calcium channel Cav3.2 (voltage‐gated calcium channel) involved in the physiologic andpathophysiologic mechanoperception.In the first part, we evaluated the role of ASIC3 subnits in colonic hypersensitivity. For this, we used severalanimal models mimicking colonic hypersensitivity of different origins in deficient animals for ASIC3 and theirlittermates. The first model using the DSS at two concentrations: 0.5% and 1% respectively inducing colonichypersensitivity with and without inflammation. The second model mimicking colonic hypersensitivityinduced gastrointestinal infection. For this, we used a AIEC bacteria (Adherent‐Invasive Escerichia Coli) ofLF82 strain abnormally present in patients with Crohn's disease. We were able to show that the ASIC3channel is involved in the establishment of the original Visceral Hypersensitivity Colic (HSVC) found in thesetwo models. We were also able to show that the deletion of this channel leads to lower colonic inflammationin our animals. Then, we evaluated its involvement in a cystitis model and found that this channel was notinvolved in this type of pain or in the resulting inflammation.In the second part, we worked on the calcium channel Cav3.2. This channel already studied in the laboratoryhad shown no involvement in visceral inflammatory pain, we observed his involvement in thenoninflammatory colonic hypersensitivity through two models: the DSS model 0.5% and the maternalseparation model. We were able to demonstrate a lack of hypersensitivity in animals deficient for thischannel. In addition, we found an involvement of this calcium channel in patients IBS, resulting in increasedexpression in these patients compared to control patients.The aim of this third part is to determine the EGR‐4 localization and its involvement in the mouse colonsensitivity to a mechanical stimulus. For that purpose, wild‐type and healthy mice were subjected or not to acolorectal distension (mechanical stimulus) for 10 seconds via inflation of a balloon inserted at 1cm from theanal margin. Then, we analyzed the expression of EGR‐4 at different time points after the distension at themRNA level in the colon, dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord by quantitative RT‐PCR and its cellularlocalization in DRG, and in colon after whole‐mount dissection, by immunohistochemistry. We also identified targeted genes of this transcription factor in mouse colonic epithelial cells transfected by an EGR‐4expressing vector after microarray analysis. EGR‐4 transcription factor is localized in the colon, DRG andspinal cord cells. In addition, its expression is modified after colorectal distension in a time dependentmanner.

Lower back disorders due to whole-body vibration (WBV) are the most common injuries reported by professional drivers. Such injuries often have long-term complications leading to significant personal and societal costs. An improved mathematical model of the whole human body would contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of lower back injury and be valuable in injury prevention research. Current biodynamic human models reported in the literature lack detailed information for predicting the non-linearity due to vibration amplitude of transmission of vibration from seat to a human. Therefore, one of the primary objectives of this research has been to develop and validate a detailed threedimensional biodynamic human model, with special attention given to the incorporation of active trunk muscles with non-linear stiffness properties. These muscles have been incorporated into an existing spine and neck model of a MADYMO 50th percentile male occupant model. A detailed multi-body human model has been developed, called MODEL ONE. This thesis shows that incorporating non-linear stiffness functions and energy dissipation using hysteresis or damping into a human model is appropriate for predicting non-linear biodynamic responses in arbitrary excitation functions. A major advantage of MODEL ONE compared to other multi-body models and lumped mass models is its ability to predict nonlinear seat-to-human transmissibility. However MADYMO 50th male occupant models use simplified geometry and rigid bodies to represent the lower lumbar spine. These simplified spinal models have no ability to simulate the internal stresses and deformations of soft tissues, even if these are the apparent cause of lower back pain (LBP). Therefore a detailed finite element human lower lumbar spine model - with appropriate material properties and capable of simulating internal stresses⎯is necessary, in order to better understand spinal injuries under WBV. A three-dimensional finite element model of a lower lumbar spine motion segment - called MODEL TWO - has thus been developed for the present study. MODEL TWO comprises a detailed geometric description of vertebrae, nucleus pulposus, endplates, and intervertebral discs. The intervertebral discs lump together the annulus fibrosus, ground substance and ligaments. The vertebrae have been assumed to be rigid. The material properties of the intervertebral discs of MODEL TWO were obtained from test matrices and from various parameter data reported in the literature. MODEL TWO has been validated against cadaveric experiments reported in the literature. The mechanical behaviour and stress distribution within the MODEL TWO intervertebral disc agree reasonably well with the cadaveric experiments. MODEL TWO was integrated into MODEL ONE to form a new human model, called MODEL THREE, which was subsequently dynamically validated against volunteers� responses to WBV reported in the literature. MODEL THREE, as presented in this thesis, consists of a multi-body human model with detailed representation of a finite element (FE) lower lumbar spine. As far as the author is aware, MODEL THREE is the first model with detailed representation of a FE lower lumbar spine to successfully demonstrate that it is capable of simulating the stress profile of the entire intervertebral disc and endplate region due to WBV. The simulated results revealed abnormal stress concentrations in both the posterior and xviii the posterolateral annulus. The stresses increased most in the posterolateral intervertebral discs region during WBV, suggesting a possible mechanism for disc mechanical overload leading to fatigue fracture and degeneration. The results from MODEL THREE are promising and lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the behaviour of the intervertebral disc under WBV. MODEL THREE has also provided a good foundation for the development of a bio-fidelity human model. However, implementation of currently unavailable and/or inadequate in vitro and in vivo experimental studies is needed to further validate and develop MODEL THREE. A better understanding of injury mechanisms and the clinical significance of LBP will ultimately be arrived at using a combination of analytical models with in vitro and in vivo experimental data.

To study the differences in levels of alexithymia, depresion, anxiety and socioeconomic status between a sample of adolescents diagnosed with ICD-10 Persistent Somatoform Pain Disorder N=120 and healthy adolescents controls N=240, and further to survey the method of family conflicts resolution in the somatizing adolescents.Using the Toronto alexithymia scale and Hospital anxiety and Depresion scale and questionary to the subjects and their parents to assess each family's SES and method of conflict resolution. The rate of alexithymia in somatizing adolescents was 69,2percent, which was significantly higher than inhealthy controls(22,9percent, p<o.001). Similarly the rate of anxiety was significantly higher in the somatizers(61,6percent) versus controls(23,3percent, p<0.0010.The method of conflict resolution in the families of somatizing adolescents was more often by quarreling or fighting(6,7percent), silence or not solving the problem at all(44,1percent), and rarely by discussion(17,6percent).

Euclea natalensis A.DC. belongs to the Ebenaceae family, and is extensively distributed along the eastern coast of southern Africa. Many Euclea species are widely gathered by indigenous people because of their medicinal properties. Roots of these plant species are frequently used to treat respiratory complications such as chest pains, bronchitis, pleurisy and asthma. Ground root powder is topically applied in cases of leprosy and is used by some ethnic groups to treat toothache and headache. The bioactivity encountered is attributable to naphthoquinones, which are common phenolic compounds in the Ebenaceae family. Naphthoquinones isolated from E. natalensis (shinanolone, 7-methyljuglone, diospyrin, isodiospyrin and neodiospyrin) have exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. The demand for these products will escalate due the amount of plant material required to further research. We need to explore techniques that can maximize their productivity. The present study was conducted on E. natalensis, in an attempt to establish if there exists any correlation between the accumulation of naphthoquinones and stages of seedling growth, seasonal fluctuations and application of fertilizers. A possible correlation between seedling growth stages and the accumulation of naphthoquinones (shinanolone, 7-methyljuglone and diospyrin) was investigated in seeds and seedlings of Euclea natalensis. In this study, the seeds represented the first stage, whereas the second seedling stage was defined as the stage when the radicles were about 6 cm long. The lengths of the seedlings at the third, fourth and fifth seedling stages were 9 cm, 12 cm and 16 cm respectively. Plant materials collected from the five seedling stages were separately extracted using chloroform and the naphthoquinones were then quantified by means of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Mobile phase of MeCN: H2O: AcOH (62.5: 32.5: 5) was used as an eluent in an isocratic mode and at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. Standard curves of each of the four compounds were obtained by making a series of dilutions in the concentration range of 22.5 µg/ml to 2.25 µg/ml. Ten microlitres of each dilution was injected three times into the HPLC, and the run time for each injection was 20 minutes. Calibration curves were then generated and used for the quantification of each compound. Shinanolone, which was the only naphthoquinone detectible in seeds, accumulated at variable rates (P<0.01) and no trend could be established between its synthesis and seedling growth. The content of shinanolone ranged from 87.5 mg/kg dry weight (dw) in seeds to a high mean value of 1047 mg/kg (dw) during the fourth seedling stage. A significant correlation (P<0.01) was found between the mean concentrations of 7-methyljuglone and seedling growth. 7-Methyljuglone was quantified at a high mean level of 5003 mg/kg during the third seedling stage and was not detected in the seed samples. A positive correlation (P<0.01) was established between the concentration of diospyrin and seedling stages. Diospyrin was detected at an elevated mean concentration of 6182 mg/kg during the fifth seedling stage, which was higher than the other quantified naphthoquinones. Seasonal variation of naphthoquinones (shinanolone, 7-methyljuglone, diospyrin, isodiospyrin and neodiospyrin) was investigated from eleven plants of E. natalensis subsp. natalensis growing in natural populations, over a period of four seasons. The roots were harvested, dried, extracted and analysed as in the previous study. The mean levels of shinanolone and 7-methyljuglone were found to be uniform in all the seasons and no statistically significant variation could be found between seasonal changes and their mean concentrations. Accumulation of isodiospyrin and neodiospyrin varied significantly with seasonal changes (P<0.05). These two bioactive naphthoquinones were detected only in summer and autumn respectively, and not in winter. A statistically significant variation (P<0.05) was established between the levels of diospyrin and seasonal fluctuations. Diospyrin was detected at a mean concentration of 3190 mg/kg (dw) during spring, which was higher than the other naphthoquinones quantified in all four seasons. The effect of NPK fertilizers on growth performance and accumulation of naphthoquinones (shinanolone, 7-methyljuglone, diospyrin, isodiospyrin and neodiospyrin) in seedlings of E. natalensis grown in shade and under field conditions was investigated. Each group was subdivided into four subgroups, which were then subjected to four respective treatments of water-soluble foliar feed (2:1:2 (44) NPK) at three different concentrations. Treatments tested were as follows: Treatment 1 at 40 g/l, Treatment 2 and Treatment 3 at 20 g/l and 10 g/l respectively. The control group received only supplemental water. The first harvest was conducted after 6 months of application of fertilizers and the second one was done after 12 months of treatment. Roots and shoots were harvested and analysed separately. The naphthoquinones were quantified as previously described. The bioactivity of root extracts from seedlings was tested against Mycobacterium smegmatis and extracts with lower MIC were further tested on M. tuberculosis. Growth parameters differed between the two groups, with seedlings from the shadehouse showing more plant vigour than the field grown plants. No significant interaction could be established between the measured growth factors and treatment. A significant interaction (P<0.001) was found between Treatment 2 and shadehouse seedlings. Treatment 2 enhanced vegetative performance with the mean values of fresh weight of shoots and roots being twice as much as their respective control mean values. A significantly positive correlation was established between the concentration of shinanolone (P<0.01), isodiospyrin (P<0.05) and neodiospyrin (P<0.05) with fertilization from field-grown seedlings. Application of NPK fertilizers significantly (P<0.05) increased the accumulation of neodiospyrin in seedlings subjected to shadehouse conditions. The most potent naphthoquinone, 7-methyljuglone, was found to be abundant in all the extracts and was quantified at a high mean concentration of 10200 mg/kg from shadehouse seedlings. Root extracts of E. natalensis seedlings grown under field conditions were generally more active against the bacterial strain of M. smegmatis as compared to extracts acquired from roots of seedlings maintained under a shadehouse setting. A lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.78mg/ml against M. smegmatis was observed from the second harvest of field-cultivated seedlings of the control and Treatment 1 subgroups. The MIC values for shadehouse seedlings ranged from 1.6 to 6.3 mg/ml. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values from all the extracts tested were relatively higher than their respective MIC’s. Root extracts of E. natalensis were more active against M. tuberculosis and their MIC values were lower than the tested concentrations. Extracts acquired from field-grown seedlings were more active against M. smegmatis with a lowest MIC value of 0.78 mg/ml. Extracts from the control group and Treatment 1, which had less application of fertilizers were more active against strains of M. tuberculosis with MIC value of 10 µg/ml. This shows the selectivity of E. natalensis against the mycobacterial strain of M. tuberculosis. Based on the findings, synthesis and accumulation of naphthoquinones in E. natalensis is highly variable within individuals of the species investigated. Naphthoquinones accumulate in relatively higher amounts in roots of E. natalensis than in the aboveground structures, which validate their harvest by indigenous people. The concentration of shinanolone varied slightly and its production increased with seedling growth. The synthesis of 7-methyljuglone is independent of fertilisation as its accumulation was enhanced in seedlings subjected to control treatment. Neodiospyrin and isodiospyrin were always present in every sample obtained from the seedlings but they were not detectible in every profile of samples from mature plants. Diospyrin is the only naphthoquinone that was detected in every sample analysed and also quantified in high concentrations from mature plants harvested in spring. The study showed that depending on the requirement of a particular naphthoquinone for research, one could target the seasons and seedling stages recommended from this study. This study also showed that field-cultivated seedlings produced more potent naphthoquinones than the ones subjected to controlled environments. / Dissertation (MSc (Plant Science))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted