No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2006. / Title from PDF title page screen. Advisor: Gregory Raner; submitted to the Dept. of Chemistry. Includes bibliographical references (p. 68-70).

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

This thesis describes the in vivo evaluation of orally administered extracts of Echinacea species, and fractions obtained from Echinacea purpurea for specific immunostimulatory function induced in Balb/c mice by immunization with microbial vaccines. Two vaccines were used for this purpose in this study. The first vaccine used consisted of whole-cell formalin-killed Salmonella typhimurium vaccine, which is known to induce production of specific antibodies but no delayed-type hypersensitivity response considered as an indicator of the cell-mediated immune response. The second vaccine was a commercial acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) consisting of inactivated diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and native or inactivated virulence factors of Bordetella pertussis (the etiological agent of whooping cough) which is known to induce a humoral immune response but with controversial reports about performance in the induction of cell-mediated immunity. Both vaccines were administered intraperitoneally, whereas the herbal extracts and fractions were administered by oral gavage. The phytochemical profile of the ethanolic extracts of Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea angustifolia and one commercial product "Echinacea Triplex" and three fractions prepared from Echinacea purpurea, namely polysaccharides, phenolics and alkylamides, was determined by thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography and/or by chemical analytical techniques. Statistically significant increases in specific anti-Salmonella typhimurium serum antibody were obtained for the Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea Triplex [Trade Mark] treatment groups, and also for groups receiving treatment with fractions obtained from Echinacea purpurea, namely, polysaccharide, alkylamide and phenolic fractions. Statistically significant increases in the anti-B pertussis serum antibodies were also obtained in the young Echinacea Triplex [Trade Mark] group vaccinated with the DTaP vaccine. Significant enhancement of serum interleukin-12 titres was observed in the Echinacea Triplex [Trade Mark] as well as the phenolic fraction treatment groups which were vaccinated with killed Salmonella typhimurium vaccine. Of the groups vaccinated with the DTaP vaccine, only Echinacea Triplex [Trade Mark] displayed statistically significant increases in mean interleukin-12 titre compared to the placebo in both young and old groups, however Echinacea purpurea, and Echinacea angustifolia both displayed significant increases in mean interleukin-12 titre in the young treatment mice. Increases in interferon-gamma levels in mice orally dosed with phenolic, polysaccharide or alkylamide fractions of Echinacea purpurea and vaccinated with the killed Salmonella typhimurium vaccine were also observed, however these need to be repeated for confirmation, and statistical analysis.

No description available.

The project chosen for partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching in the field of Theater Arts was the production of Herb Gardner’s comedy, A Thousand Clowns. This particular play was chosen because it met production requirements more closely than any other script considered for the project. The project involved, after selection of the script, casting the characters, a six-week rehearsal period, consulting with the technical staff on matters of lighting, setting, and costumes, four performances at the Portland State College Idea Theater, two performances at the Oregon State Penitentiary, and the compiling of a complete Play Production Book which describes all phases of the production. Existing standards of play direction and projection book composition were observed throughout the production period. Special emphasis was placed on each actor’s development of his character, remembering that an educational theater situation is also a learning situation for all concerned. Character relationships became extremely important to the sense of script, as the play is actually built on a series of character sketches in which we see many contemporary American types. The play’s conflict is seen through character and is obvious from the first few lines of Act I. Murray Burns has made his value judgments on American society and has found the latter to be far below his expectations. He is now attempting to live by his own eccentric rules and, at the same time, retain custody of his nephew, who is in the process of being removed from his home by the Bureau of Child Welfare. Into this theme of individuality versus structure is woven the familiar boy-meets-girl pattern. The entire play, consequently, depends on character and inter-character relationships. The play’s pure entertainment value was stressed, rather than any moral message which might have been present in the script. The play is funny, but there are definite deficiencies in the areas of plot development and the play’s philosophy. The purpose of the production was to present consistently a humorous, enjoyable evening of theater for the audiences and a beneficial learning situation for the actors, director, and production staff. After several casting difficulties and minor technical slow-downs, A Thousand Clowns enjoyed near capacity houses at P.S.C. and an extremely warm reception from the members of Oregon State Prison’s Upward Bound program. The show increased in effectiveness at each performance. Character came through to the audiences. Serious pace problems involving quick timing from beginning to end were solved. The actors did the work themselves. They improved their craft and learned and benefitted from this experience. From the director’s standpoint, the experience was enjoyable and profitable, provoking new ideas and calling upon new methods to work them out.

Due to the essential demands for novel anti-tuberculosis treatments for global tuberculosis control, this research investigated the antimycobacterial activity of Hypericum perforatum herb (commonly known as St. John’s wort, SJW), including a SJW methanol extract, purified major bioactive constituents of SJW: hypericin (Hpn), pseudohypericin (Phn) and hyperforin (Hfn). The SJW acidified methanol extract showed bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium JLS at 0.05 mg/ml culture. Purified compounds were tested at similar concentrations contained in the SJW methanol extract treatment. Among three purified bioactive compounds, only Hfn was bactericidal at 12 μg/ml. The other two compounds Phn and Hpn were not inhibitory or bactericidal at concentrations corresponding to the SJW methanol extract treatments. The Polysorbate surfactant Tween 80, which is commonly added to the mycobacterial cultures to prevent cell clumping, was found to have inhibitory effects on the antimycobacterial activities of SJW extract and hyperforin. The addition of Tween 80 (0.05% v/v) increased the minimum bactericidal concentration (MIC) of SJW methanol extract from 0.05 to 0.33mg /ml and from 12 to 80 μg/ml for Hfn. This inhibitory effect of Tween 80 on SJW is opposite to the effect of Tween 80 on the antimycobacterial activity of rifampin and isoniazid. These observations are also in conflict with the existing permeability barrier hypothesis. A hypothesis that hyperforin molecules were sequestered in the core of Tween 80 micelles was given out to explain the repression effect of Tween 80 on hyperforin activity. The effectiveness of Tween 60, Tween 40 and Tween 20 on SJW activity was also tested. Tween 60 and Tween 40 showed the similar dose-dependent inhibitory effect on SJW extract activity with Tween 80, while the inhibitory effect of Tween 20 is much weaker. A preliminary test was performed to detect the activity of SJW acidified MeOH extract and hyperforin on M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Results showed the MIC was 0.67mg SJW extract/ml and 200 μg Hfn /ml. In all, M. tuberculosis H37Rv stain is not that sensitive to SJW and hyperforin as other non-pathogenic strains tested in the present and previous studies.

Thesis (B.G.S.)--Texas Tech University, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 30).

While there is growing evidence that shade/flood tolerance tradeoffs may be important in distributions of bottomland hardwood trees and indications that they should apply to herbs, no studies have definitively explored this possibility. Four years of field data following historic flooding were supplemented with a greenhouse experiment designed to identify interactions congruent with tradeoffs. Fifteen bottomland species were grown in two levels of water availability and three levels of shade over 10 weeks. Results indicate responses of Fimbristylis vahlii and Ammannia robusta are consistent with tradeoffs. Modification of classical allometric responses to shade by substrate saturation indicates a potential mechanism for the tradeoff in A. robusta. Responses indicating potential for increased susceptibility to physical flooding disturbance are also discussed.