Indigenous plants have long been used by African populations in their cultural lives and health care. Sutherlandia frutescens (SF) is a popular traditional medicinal plant found in various parts of southern Africa and used for treatment or management of different diseases, including cancer and HIV/AIDS. In this study, the biochemical effects of various dilutions (1/50, 1/150, 1/200, and 1/300) of SF 70% ethanol (SFE) and deionised water (SFW) extracts in cancerous H9 and normal T cells were examined. Untreated, 70% ethanol-treated and camptothecin (CPT, 20jiiM) treated cells were used as reference samples for comparison. Cytotoxicity, apoptotic enzymes activity, oxidant scavenging and antioxidant promoting abilities, cellular morphology and cytokine signalling effects were assessed using the methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay, caspase-3/-7 activity assay, thiobarbituric acid reactant substance (TBARS) and glutathione (GSH) assays, fluorescence microscopy and an ELISAbased cytokine analyses assay respectively. Sutherlandia frutescens ethanol and water extract dilutions (1/50 and 1/200) were shown to be cytotoxic to H9 T cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner with the SFE extract having an average IC50 of 1/40 after 24 hours while SFW extract reached a similar IC50 only after 48 hours. In normal T cells, the SFE extract induced proliferation after 24 hours but this was reverse after 48 hours. The SFW extract dilutions did not significantly change cell viability after 24 hours but significantly increased cell viability after 48 hours. Both SFE and SFW extracts dilutions induced a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of caspase-3/-7 activity in both H9 and normal T cells. Both types of extracts were also shown to efficiently remove lipid peroxides from supernatants of treated cell lines, with SFW extract having a more lasting effect. In the GSH assay, the SFE and SFW extract dilutions reduced GSH levels in H9 T cells, with the SFW extract dilutions being more effective. In normal T cells, the higher dilutions (1/150 and 1/300) of SFW extract increased GSH levels significantly while lower dilutions (1/50) of both SFE and SFW extracts significantly inhibited GSH levels. Lower dilutions (1/50) of SFE and SFW extracts induced chromatin condensation in both H9 and normal T cells after 48 hours incubation. Using treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) supernatants, SFE and SFW extract dilutions were shown to reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL 1 p and TNF-a in a dose-dependent manner. These results further confirmed the anticancer abilities of SF and showed that higher concentrations of this medicinal plant can be toxic to normal T cells in vitro while lower concentrations can stimulate the immune cells. Therefore further studies should be conducted with regards to the effects of SF on the immune system in both in vitro and in vivo systems. / Thesis (M.Med.Sci.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.

Sutherlandia frutescens (SF), an indigenous medicinal plant to South Africa (SA), is traditionally used to treat a diverse range of illnesses including cancer and viral infections. The biologically active compounds of SF are polar, thus renal elimination increases susceptibility to toxicity. This study investigated the antioxidant potential, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptotic induction by SF on proximal and distal tubule epithelial cells. Cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential was determined using a flow cytometric JC-1 Mitoscreen assay. Cellular glutathione and apoptosis were measured using the GSH-GloTM Glutathione assay and Caspase-Glo® 3/7 assay, respectively. The IC50 values from the cell viability results for LLC-PK1 and MDBK was 15 mg/ml and 7 mg/ml, respectively. SF significantly decreased intracellular GSH in LLC-PK1 (p < 0.0001) and MDBK (p < 0.0001) cells. Lipid peroxidation increased in LLC-PK1 (p < 0.0001) and MDBK (p < 0.0001) cells. JC-1 analysis showed that SF promoted mitochondrial membrane depolarization in both LLC-PK1 and MDBK cells up to 80% (p < 0.0001). The activity of caspase 3/7 increased both LLC-PK1 (11.9-fold; p < 0.0001) and MDBK (2.2-fold; p < 0.0001) cells. SF at high concentrations plays a role in increased oxidative stress, altered mitochondrial membrane integrity and promoting apoptosis in renal tubule epithelia. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2009.

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a nephrotoxic mycotoxin, is a contaminant of several agricultural food products consumed by animals and humans. Apart from renal toxicity, in particular renal tumours, OTA may also result in teratogenicity, neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity. Sutherlandia frutescens, an indigenous medicinal plant, has shown significant potential in strengthening the immune system and in cancer treatment, with minimal side effects. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of OTA in male Wistar rats and ascertain if these effects may be reduced by S. frutescens. Rats were treated by intraperitoneal injection (i.p) with either a control (EtOH:dH20;30:70), S. frutescens (1.0mg/kg body weight), OTA (0.5mg/kg body weight) or a combination of OTA and S. frutescens for a period of 1 or 7 days (n=4). Genotoxicity and metabolic activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were quantified using single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and the methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay, respectively. Lymphocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial depolarisation were measured by flow cytometry. Fluorescence microscopy was utilised to determine renal tissue apoptosis (Hoechst staining) and OTA localisation using immunohistochemistry (IRC). SDS-PAGE and Western blot were utilised to determine protein expression in kidney tissue and serum. Ochratoxin A significantly reduced PBMC viability (14%) after 7 days, compared with Day 1 (p<0.001). Lymphocyte mitochondrial depolarisation was 56.5% and 66.2% in the OTA-only and combination groups, respectively after 7 days (p<0.001). Ochratoxin A produced an increase in DNA damage compared to the control (p<0.01). The renal tissue displayed typical signs of apoptosis such as chromatin condensation. Ochratoxin A was immunolocalised within the glomerulus. The protein analysis showed a decreased expression in the kidney mitochondrial protein fraction. Ochratoxin A preferentially bound to serum albumin and a 120kDa protein in the OTA-only and co-treatment groups after the 1-and 7-day regimes. Protein band intensities significantly decreased after the 7-day co-treatment (p<0.01). The data highlights that OTA toxicity is mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, OTA disruptions in immune function may play a role in renal damage. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2009.

The production of free flowing powder by spray drying of sugar-acid rich foods requires an appropriate carrier. High molecular weight materials such as maltodextrins are commercially used as a drying aid because of their high glass transition temperature (Tg). Alternatively, fibre-rich by-products from fruit and vegetable juice processing might provide high molecular weight elements that are suitable as a drying support. This study aimed to understand the variables affecting the spray-dried product of fruit juice so that non-sticky fibre-based juice powder could be obtained. Freeze dried carrot fibre was centrifically-milled to 50-100 µm sizes. Three sugar determination methods; enzymatic, enzyme membrane and HPLC with RID, were compared. The freeze drying performance of fructose, fructose + carrot fibre and fructose + carrot fibre + malic acid had the glass transition temperatures measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at 0.1 °C min-1. The results from the freeze drying were used as a key for the possibility of spray dried apple juice + carrot fibre. Similar methods were used to study freeze dried fructose + maltodextrin (DE max 9.8) and fructose + maltodextrin + malic acid. Dried sucrose, glucose and fructose were used to study glass transition temperature of melted amorphous sugars and mixtures by the visual experiment and DSC at 0.1°C min-1 of heating and cooling scans. The Gordon-Taylor equation was used to predict the Tg of anhydrous two-sugar mixtures from experimental and literature data. The Coachman and Karaze equation was used to predict Tg of three-sugar mixtures and compared to the experimental data. Spray dried powders of fructose + carrot fibre of 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70% w/w and apple juice concentrate + carrot fibre of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70% w/w at 165/75°C inlet/outlet temperature in a laboratory scale drier were compared to that of fructose + maltodextrin (DE max 9.8) and apple juice concentrate + maltodextrin of 50, 60 and 70% w/w (dry basis). Dielectric analysis in the range 200 Hz -1 MHz between 10-105 °C were applied to find the onset Tg (based on DSC results) from freeze dried mixtures of 14, 21, and 28% w/w (dry basis) carrot fibre+ fructose. The enzymatic method was found to be the most accurate method for sugar determination of fruit juice but the HPLC method was the most practical one. The results of Tg values of sugars and mixtures melted showed that the Tg values from heating and cooling scans of fructose, glucose and sucrose were in good agreement with literature. Fructose acted as a plasticizer; an increase in the fructose fraction decreased the Tg of sugar mixtures. Sucrose increased the Tg of the mixtures while the Tg of the three-sugar mixtures was less variable when there was a moderate to high proportion of glucose. The visual Tg values of sugars and mixtures were 7-28 °C higher than the onset DSC heating and cooling Tg values. This result suggested that more than one method should be used to study the glass transition of substances. The Gordon-Taylor equation did not fit well the Tg values of the dry sugars and their mixtures from this experiment. The variations might have been due to the degradation of sugar samples on the melting process. The Coachman and Karaze equation gave a good prediction of the three-sugar mixtures from this experiment. The carrot fibre was found to be crystalline. Carrot fibre increased the Tg of freeze dried fructose and decreased stickiness of fructose. Increasing malic acid fraction decreased Tg of the mixtures. Freeze dried fructose + maltodextrin showed higher hygroscopicity than freeze dried fructose + carrot fibre. It was not possible to determine Tg of fructose + maltodextrin + malic acid due to the swelling and hygroscopicity of the freeze dried samples. Tg values of freeze dried fructose + carrot fibre and fructose + maltodextrin were found to high enough to allow spray drying of these mixtures. The minimum fraction of carrot fibre to facilitate spray drying of fructose and apple juice concentrate was found to be 30%. Mixtures with maltodextrin at a fraction lower than 50% could not be successfully spray dried. When spray drying fructose + carrot fibre, apple juice + carrot fibre, fructose + maltodextrin and apple juice + maltodextrin at the appropriate ratios most of the powder stuck to the drier walls. The powder swept from the wall was free flowing with moisture content of approximately 2-4%. The Tg values of these powder indicated the wall build-up might be avoided in larger scale drying. Tg values of spray dried powder from the mixtures with fibre and maltodextrin were found to be not very different. The yield from mixtures with carrot fibre was three times higher than those of mixtures with maltodextrin. This cast doubts that Tg alone could be a good indicator for the stickiness of spray dried material. The microscope images and DSC scans of spray dried powders of fructose + carrot fibre and apple juice + carrot fibre showed crystalline material. The particle of spray dried fructose + maltodextrin and apple juice + maltodextrin were mostly amorphous. The crystals are more physically and chemically stable than the amorphous form. Thus carrot fibre is a good additive in spray drying of fruit juice. Dielectric analysis at low frequency was able to possible detect Tg of single and double components. For food polymer with many components it was found that Tg value was not consistently dependent on frequency. In conclusion, carrot fibre was a more effective carrier for spray drying than maltodextrin when compared on a mass basis and spray drying condition. Since edible fibre is an essential element needed by the human body, spray drying of fruit juice using fibre as a carrier showed the great potential of fibre in the application of fruit juice spray drying. In the case of clear juice, after reconstitution, the fibre can be easily separated from the juice as there seemed to be no chemical binding between the juice and the fibre during the spray drying process.

The major downfalls of vegetable oils, namely soybean oil in this research, are very detrimental to engine lubricant performance. A unique - out of the box- additive package is needed to compensate for the lubricant deficiencies. This research searched for unique additive solutions to the problems of oxidation and heat stability, low temperature pumpability, and fluid corrosiveness. The additive solutions were then tested in preliminary engine tests. In this research, several formulations were developed that passed the main engine oil low temperature test, the mini rotary viscometer. The lubricants met the passing viscosity requirements of 60,000 centipoise and exhibited no yield stress. The formulation was tested using ASTM D 6594[1], hot tube corrosion bench test, and Sequence VIII corrosion engine test. Acceptable results were seen in both tests. Oxidation bench tests were used to examine soybean engine oil stability. Several antioxidants showed improved performance in the TFOUT oxidation induction time bench test. A mixture of those antioxidants was tested in the Sequence IIIG engine test. All of the formulas failed the Sequence IIIG tests. However, improved test results were seen when the soybean oil was decreased from 15 wt % to 5 wt % in the formulations.

Anbauverfahren von Gurken am »Hohen Draht« mit einer Spanndrahthöhe von 3,40 m werden hinsichtlich Ertragsleistung, Arbeitszeitaufwand und Wirtschaftlichkeit mit Standardanbauverfahren (Spanndrahthöhe 2,20 m) verglichen. Die Ergebnisse des vierjährigen Forschungsprojektes zeigen, dass Gurken im Gewächshaus auf Substrat am »Hohen Draht« mit 200 bis 220 Gurken/m² deutlich höhere Erträge als die Standardverfahren erzielen. Pflege und Arbeitszeitaufwand sind allerdings eindeutig höher. Der Anbau von Gurken am »Hohen Draht« führte dennoch zu einer Verbesserung der Deckungsbeiträge um fast ein Drittel. Die Investitionskosten für die Umstellung von 1 ha Standardverfahren auf den Gurkenanbau am »Hohen Draht« betragen 70.000 bis 80.000 Euro. Bei steigenden Energiekosten ist das Verfahren am »Hohen Draht« eine wirtschaftliche Alternative zu den gegenwärtigen Standardverfahren. Allerdings mangelt es an guten Spezialsorten. Problematisch ist das Risiko von Ertragsausfällen durch Stängelbotrytis.

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of medicinal hemp plant extracts to determine the antibacterial effects of indigenous Sansevieria species and exotic Cannabis sativa phytotherapy varieties. This study also assessed whether aqueous o

<p>Leonotis leonorus and Mentha longifolia are two herbs commonly used in South Africa, mostly in oral liquid dosage forms. Several disadvantages are associated with these traditional dosage forms which can perhaps be remedied by using an appropriate oral solid dosage form, provided the actual plant material in the latter still resemble, as closely as possible, the traditionally used material and provide products of suitable pharmaceutical quality. The objectives of this study were to prepare and evaluate the pharmaceutical suitability of the freeze-dried aqueous extracts of Leonotis Leonorus and Mentha Longifolia as plant raw material for the capsule dosage of these two therapies and to formulate and manufacture capsules of Leonotis Leonorus and Mentha Longifolia aqueous extract that would contain amounts of the plant materials equivalent to that found in their traditional liquid dosage forms, and have immediate release characteristics and suitability stability.</p>

<p>Since Helichrysum is known by the indigenous people of Africa for therapeutic properties, such as against colds, flu and wounds, the aim of this study was to focus on the patulum species found predominantly in the Western Cape region of South Africa and by means of isolation and identification of the plant constituents, be able to relate the therapeutic activity on the basis of literature precedents, to the compounds extracted.</p>

Dietary omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), have beneficial health effects and hence increasing the consumption of these fatty acids is recommended by health authorities. The most common dietary source of EPA, DPA and DHA is seafood, but few Australians habitually consume fish and on average eat less than one meal of fish per week. Thus if Australians are to meet the dietary guidelines for n-3 fatty acid intake, there is a need to develop a source of n-3 rich foods that fit into a typical Australian diet. Feeding fish oils rich in n-3 LCPUFA to chickens has proven problematic due to alteration in organoleptic properties. The incorporation of vegetable oils rich in n-3 PUFA, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) into the diet of chickens is potentially an alternative way to provide meat rich in n-3 LCPUFAs as ALA is the precursor of EPA and DHA. However, most vegetable oils also contain the n-6 (n-6) PUFA, linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) which competes with ALA for the same enzymes in their metabolism to LCPUFA. This thesis addressed two crucial issues relating to the conversion of ALA into EPA, DPA and DHA of chicken tissues. The objectives of the first experiment were to examine the effects of increasing the ALA content of diets on the conversion of ALA into EPA, DPA and DHA by measuring their accumulation in chicken meat (breast and thigh) and to determine if there was an optimum level of ALA (at a fixed level of LA) in this process. The ratio of LA to ALA of the diets ranged from 10.5:1 to 0.6:1. The findings in this study demonstrated that there was no optimum level of dietary ALA and as indicated by the observation that EPA, DPA and DHA continued to increase in breast and thigh as the ratio of LA to ALA decreased in the diet. In general, DPA achieved higher levels than DHA. The experimental diets with the lowest LA to ALA ratio elevated the incorporation of EPA and DHA into breast and thigh meat to levels 5 and 4-fold, respectively relative to birds fed the highest LA to ALA ratio. In contrast, arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) in all groups reduced with decreasing LA to ALA ratio in the diets. The results indicated that the dietary treatments did not significantly change the growth performance of chickens. The objective of the second experiment was to assess the regulatory effect of dietary LA on the conversion of ALA into EPA, DPA and DHA. While in the first experiment the diets varied in the level of ALA but had a constant LA level, in this experiment the level of ALA in the diets was held constant and the level of LA was varied. The LA to ALA ratio of experimental diets ranged from 1.4:1 to 2.1:1. The results of this study indicated that the highest LA to ALA ratio (2.1:1) resulted in the lowest n-3 LCPUFAs, EPA, DPA and DHA in meat samples. For example, the total n-3 LCPUFA levels in the breast meat of birds fed with the lowest LA to ALA ratio was 16% higher than the n-3 LCPUFA in the breast of birds fed the highest LA to ALA ratio. This study indicated that the strongest influence on EPA, DPA and DHA accumulation in chicken tissues was the level of ALA in the diet. The experimental diets did not appear to affect the growth performance of chickens. In conclusion, increasing the ALA content of chicken diets may result in a meat source high in n-3 LCPUFAs that may reduce pressure on diminishing marine stocks as well as offering health benefits to Australians. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1369065 / Thesis (M.Ag.Sc.) - University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2009