Ph.D. (Chemistry) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

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Outreach programs in horticultural therapy at botanical gardens and arboreta are valuable resources to the community and to ongoing HT programs in nursing homes, special education classes, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, and other institutions and agencies. These outreach programs furnish written materials, plants, and staff expertise for existing programs and help establish new programs. Seminars and conferences are held providing information on and training in HT. There are several outreach HT programs at gardens and arboreta throughout the United States and abroad. However, currently there is very little information available for developing this type of program. This thesis provides a resource guide describing HT and how it can be incorporated into a botanical garden or arboretum. Resources from The Holden Arboretum in Ohio, Chicago Botanic Garden in Illinois, and North Carolina Botanical Garden, survey information, and literature from existing programs have been compiled suggesting possible procedures to follow in implementing a program. A slide presentation has been developed which illustrates the benefits of HT and describes the outreach HT program at Holden. / M.S.

Thesis (MTech (Consumer Sciences: Food and Nutrition))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2006 / Fruit and vegetables are the major antioxidant contributors to the diet Antioxidants assist in the prevention of oxidative damage in the body and may as a result prevent the causation of degenerative diseases. Thermal household processing plays an integral part in South African consumers' lives, as most fruit and vegetables consumed are processed at home. Consumers' perceptions that food processing causes nutrient losses, especially of vitamin C, have been corroborated by studies that investigated thermal household processing of single foods or that of industrial processing. No studies have determined the effect of thermal household processing on mixed dishes. A popular consumed South African mixed dish, namely, stewed tomato and onion flavoured with parsley, was investigated by using three recipes, each using a different preparation method. The traditional recipe for the preparation of stewed tomato and onion was modified (control recipe) to contain parsley. Two other recipes (Recipe 1 and 2) were compiled based on the recipe formulation of the control recipe but differed in the preparation methods used. In Recipe 1, raw onion was added to cooked tomato and in Recipe 2, sauteed onions were added to cooked tomato.

Ampelopsis grossedentata is a wildly used herb in South China as sleep aid beverage for many years. Yet the active ingredients and mechanisms of this herb were unknown. In the present study, extract from Ampelopsis grossedentata which we named ECBRC-AG, and one of its active ingredient myricetin were proved having significant hypnotic/sedative effects in multiple animal models. ECBRC-AG shortened sleep latency, increase NREM sleep and decrease locomotor activity when treated before the onset of light period in rats. ECBRC-AG could decrease active awake and increase REM sleep in the late part of light period. ECBRC-AG also decreased the caffeine induced hyperactivity in rats. Among the three suspected active ingredients from ECBRC-AG, myricetin showed similar active profile with ECBRC-AG. Myricetin increased NREM and REM sleep, decreased sleep latency, decreased locomotor activity and also active awake. All the above evidences have implicated that myricetin is the most important active ingredient of ECBRC-AG ECBRC-AG and myricetin did not show any obvious side effects on rats. / Based on these findings, we propose that myricetin facilitates GABA function on PVN neurons through a T-type calcium channel and CaM-KII mechanism. The hypnotic/sedative effects of ECBRC-AG and myricetin are mediated by PVN. ECBRC-AG treatment decreased corticosterone levels in rats, which also indicated that PVN/HPA axis was the target of these herbal derivates. PVN has broad interactions with GABAergic, hypocretinergic, cytokine and NPY system and all these systems are proved to be deeply involved in sleep regulation. / In conclusion, the present study has identified that myricetin is the most important active ingredient of the herbal extract ECBRC-AG. We confirmed the hypnotic/sedative effects of ECBRC-AG and myricetin on rats, and also revealed the different action profiles of these herbal derivates compared with zolpidem. T-type calcium channels and the HPA axis were shown to be involved in the mechanisms of ECBRC-AG and myricetin, indicating that they may be the new targets for insomnia treatment with these herbal derivates. / Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder and affects about one third of the general population. Insomnia is always combined with physical and mental illness, as either a consequence or a contributing factor. Insomnia produces sleepiness, impairment in psychomotor performance, absenteeism, frequent accidents, memory impairment and a high risk of depression. Pharmacologic therapies are the most important interventions for insomnia. However, the currently available hypnotics are associated with residual effects and risks of abuse and dependence. More efficient and safe hypnotics are needed. / The DNA array and RT-PCR studies revealed that GABA, hypocretin, cytokine and NPY systems were involved in the mechanisms of ECBRC-AG and myricetin. In calcium imaging study, we found that myricetin induced a transient Ca 2+ influx in the primary culture of rat hypothalamus neurons. This Ca2+ influx could be blocked by T-type channel blocker mibefradil. RT-PCR study also showed that ECBRC-AG and myricetin treatment changed the mRNA expression level of T-type calcium channel al G subunit in rat hypothalamus. The present results are consistent with our previous study showing that myricetin enhanced GABA function in the neurons of rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and that blocking CaM-KII pathway eliminated this effect. / Zhang, Xiaohu. / "March 2008." / Adviser: Chan Hsiao Chang. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-03, Section: B, page: 1516. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 156-174). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Yeung Chung Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-97). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.vii / Table of contents --- p.ix / List of figures --- p.xii / List of tables --- p.xiv / List of abbreviations --- p.xv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Literature Review --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Cancer and melanoma --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Anticancer drugs from natural products --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Challenges in treatment of melanoma --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- TCM - New source of natural products for cancer therapy --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.6 --- The genus Schefflera --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.7 --- Anticancer activities of triterpenoids --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.8 --- Cancer and apoptosis --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.8.1 --- The Apoptosis Pathways --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.9 --- Studies of anticancer molecules against melanoma --- p.26 / Chapter 1.2.9.1 --- In vitro models for studying anticancer molecules --- p.26 / Chapter 1.2.9.2 --- In vivo models for studying anticancer molecules --- p.30 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1 --- Phytochemicals --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2 --- "Chemicals, Cell Lines and Culture Conditions" --- p.34 / Chapter 2.3 --- Determination of in vitro antiproliferative effects of HLDA and the ethyl acetate fraction from S. heptaphylla on human cancer cells --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- MTT assay --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4 --- Determination of the in vitro antiproliferative mechanisms of HLDA and the ethyl acetate fraction from S. heptaphylla in human melanoma A375 cells --- p.37 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Flow cytometric analysis --- p.37 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Western blot analysis --- p.38 / Chapter 2.5 --- Determination of the in vivo anticancer effects of the ethyl acetate fraction from S. heptaphylla --- p.41 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Determination of cancer chemopreventive effect of the ethyl acetate fraction with DMBA/TPA-induced skin carcinogenesis model --- p.41 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Determination of cancer therapeutic effect of the ethyl acetate fraction with athymic BALB/c nude mice model --- p.42 / Chapter 2.6 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.44 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1 --- Effects of HLDA and the ethyl acetate fraction on viability and proliferation of different cancer cell lines by MTT assay --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2 --- Effects of HLDA and the ethyl acetate fraction on cell cycle and apoptosis in A375 cells determined by DNA flow cytometry --- p.46 / Chapter 3.3 --- Effects of HLD A and the ethyl acetate fraction on apoptosis induction in A375 cells determined by Western blotting --- p.53 / Chapter 3.4 --- Effects of HLD A and ethyl acetate fraction on caspases in A375 cells --- p.55 / Chapter 3.5 --- Effects of caspase inhibitors on the HLDA- and the ethyl acetate fraction-induced apoptosis in A375 cells --- p.57 / Chapter 3.6 --- Effects of HLD A and the ethyl acetate fraction on the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins in A375 cells --- p.62 / Chapter 3.7 --- Chemopreventive effect of the ethyl acetate fraction from S. heptaphylla on the DMBA/TPA-induced skin carcinogenesis model --- p.65 / Chapter 3.8 --- Chemotherapeutic effect of the ethyl acetate fraction from S. heptaphylla on A375 xenograft in athymic nude mice --- p.70 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion --- p.73 / References --- p.83

Chong Lung-wun. / Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 49-58). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgement --- p.1 / Contents --- p.2 / Abstract --- p.4 / Chapter I. --- Introduction --- p.6 / Chapter 1. --- Nitrate therapy for angina patients --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1 --- The mode of action of nitrates --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2 --- Hypotheses for the nitrate tolerance --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- The Sulfhydryl depletion hypothesis --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Neurohormonal hypothesis --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Plasma volumc expansion hypothesis --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Free-radical hypothesis --- p.11 / Chapter 2. --- Testosterone therapy for angina patients --- p.12 / Chapter 3. --- Nitric Oxide and Steroidogenesis --- p.13 / Chapter II. --- Materials and Methods --- p.14 / Chapter 1. --- Subjects --- p.14 / Chapter 2. --- Method for measuring nitrite and nitrate in plasma --- p.16 / Chapter 3. --- Method for the determination of total and free testosterone in blood --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1 --- Reagent preparation --- p.24 / Chapter 3.2 --- Assay procedure for total testosterone --- p.28 / Chapter 3.3 --- Assay procedure for free testosterone --- p.29 / Chapter 3.4 --- Determination of working antiserum for free testosterone assay --- p.30 / Chapter 4. --- Method for the determination of serum Cortisol --- p.31 / Chapter III. --- Result --- p.33 / Chapter 1. --- Summary of nitric oxide assay performance --- p.33 / Chapter 2. --- Summary of total testosterone assay performance --- p.34 / Chapter 3. --- Summary of free testosterone assay performance --- p.34 / Chapter 4. --- Data analysis --- p.35 / Chapter IV. --- Discussion --- p.43 / Chapter V. --- Conclusion --- p.47 / Chapter VI. --- References --- p.49

The experimental cancer therapeutic agent gadolinium texaphyrin (MGd) is a cationic paramagnetic expanded porphyrin currently being tested as an X-Ray sensitizing (XRS) agent, and is a compound with demonstrated tumor localization. Additionally MGd shows promise as a chemotherapeutic agent, both as a stand-alone agent, and showing activity in vitro with ascorbate via a novel ROS generating mechanism.3 This dissertation reports the synthesis, characterization, and cell studies of novel MGdfluorophore, and platinum therapeutic conjugates. Also discussed are cationic Pt agents having cytotoxic activity. In this research we set out to answer three questions: i) can fluorescent conjugates of MGd be synthesized, with observable subcellular localization, different from that of MGd, ii) can MGd-Pt conjugates with observable Pt release be synthesized?, and iii) can Pt compounds containing a cationic moiety be tuned to have efficacy comparable to traditional Pt therapeutic agents? Two MGd-xanthene fluorophore conjugates were synthesized with the goal of using them to probe sub-cellular distribution. The anionic (FITC), and cationic (Rhodamine), fluorophore conjugates demonstrated nuclear and mitochondrial localization, respectively. In an ongoing project designed to reduce non-specific agent toxicity, a platinumreleasing MGd therapeutic conjugate was synthesized. The MGd-amidopropylmalonato-Pt conjugate demonstrated efficacy equivalent to carboplatin, a classical “non-selective” agent as inferred from in-vitro studies with A549 lung cancer cells. Aqueous stability studies of this conjugate gave results in agreement with hydrolytic loss of Pt, reversible with added Pt-diaquo. Finally, Pt complexes of amino-1-benzylpyridinium salts were synthesized and found to demonstrate significant cytotoxicity in screening studies. This latter positive development led to the suggestion that complexes of this type could consititute a new class of lipophilic-quaternary-cation Pt therapeutic agents. It is hoped that this series of putative Pt anti-cancer agents will prove useful as both stand-alone therapeutic agents and as the basis for producing conjugate with biolocalizing properties. / text