Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-84). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-84). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1969. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Quercetin (Q) and chlorogenic acid (CA), two bioactive compounds found in stonefruits, may protect against inflammation and cancer because of anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Since these compounds reach the colon undigested, they affect the luminal environment before they are metabolized by the microbiota and transported into epithelial cells. We hypothesized that Q and CA may suppress expression of pro-inflammatory molecules, alter the luminal environment, and alter the cell cycle, thereby protecting against injury/colitis. To test this hypothesis, 63 male weanling rats were given one of three diets (basal, 0.45% Q, 0.05% CA). After 3 wk of acclimation, colitis was induced in 11 rats/diet [3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), 48 h, 3 treatments, 2 wk separation] and 10 rats/diet served as control (0% DSS). All rats were terminated at wk 9. Measurements included: fecal moisture content, fecal short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations (gas chromatography), epithelial injury and inflammation in the distal colon, proliferation (PCNA), and NF-kappaB activity (ELISA method) and gene expression (real time RT-PCR) in mucosal scrapings. Fecal moisture content was significantly increased by DSS exposure (p<0.05), and never returned to control levels. Fecal SCFA concentrations also increased with DSS (acetate, p<0.05; butyrate, p<0.05). Increased SCFA concentrations could indicate decreased SCFA uptake. Experimental diets were able to mitigate DSS-induced decreases in SLC5A8 (SCFA transporter) expression. DSS significantly increased injury (p<0.0001) and inflammation (p<0.01) scores. Compared to the basal diet, CA decreased NF-kappaB activity in DSS-treated rats (p<0.05). Q and CA may maintain healthy regulation of NF-kappaB through maintaining expression levels of IkappaBalpha and Tollip, molecules that inhibit NF-kappaB activation. Q and CA mitigated DSS-induced increases in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, specifically IL-1. Q enhanced expression of injury-repair molecule FGF-2 (p<0.01), but neither diet nor DSS treatment altered proliferation. Although Q and CA did not protect against DSS-induced increases in injury and inflammation scores or fecal SCFA concentrations, their influence on expression of injury repair molecules, pro-inflammatory cytokines, SCFA transport proteins, and NF-kappaB inhibitory molecules suggests beneficial influences on major pathways involved in DSS-induced injury/inflammation. The combined benefit of these compounds could have additive/synergistic effects and, therefore, deserve further examination.

Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)--University of Western Australia, 2004.

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) root products are susceptible to oxidation, reduced quality and functional properties. The optimum water blanching process for yacon root slices was determined through a central composite design with variable temperature (80-100 degrees Celsius), blanching time (2-6 min), and citric acid concentration (0.04-0.20%). Phenolics and fructooligosaccharides of yacon slices were also evaluated after blanching. Yacon slices (3-4 mm) blanched at 90 degrees Celsius, 3.9 to 4.1min, and 0.05% to 0.07% citric acid showed the lowest polyphenol oxidase activity, highest whiteness value, and the highest sensory appearance scores. A second experiment showed that blanching at 100 degrees Celsius with 0.07% citric acid can maintain higher chlorogenic acid (3.52 mg/g more), inulin (5.41% more), and total sugar (34.9%) in yacon slices than blanching without citric acid. Thus, addition of less than 0.1% citric acid to boiling water can minimize loss of functional components of yacon slices during blanching.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-86). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-86). Also available on the Internet.

Feeding sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics to livestock has been associated withdevelopment and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The present experiment was conductedto investigate the effect of antibiotic alternatives (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and carbadox)on the microbial ecology of swine feces in vitro.Minimum inhibitory concentrations of caffeic and chlorogenic acids were determined forseveral pathogens using macrobroth and agar dilution techniques. Gram-negative bacteria werenot inhibited. Caffeic acid inhibited four Staphylococcus aureus strains at 200 ppm or less, andtwo Clostridium perfringens strains at 300 ppm. Chlorogenic acid inhibited all S. aureus strainsat 500 ppm, and one C. perfringens strain at 400 ppm.Effects of antibiotic alternatives on fecal microbial ecology were determined using an invitro incubation. Caffeic acid lowered total anaerobes, Bifidobacteria, Escherichia coli, andpercent E. coli (pandlt;0.01). Chlorogenic acid lowered total anaerobes, Bifidobacteria, andlactobacilli (pandlt;0.01), and increased acetate concentration (pandlt;0.0001). Carbadox lowered totalanaerobes, Bifidobacteria, E. coli, and coliforms (pandlt;0.01), and lowered acetate, propionate,butyrate, valerate, and total volatile fatty acid concentrations (pandlt;0.01). It can be concluded thataddition of caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, or carbadox effected bacterial and chemicalcomponents of the microbial ecology of swine feces.