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Mounted ill. Offprint of the author's journal article in pocket. Includes bibliographies.

This study was undertaken to redress the scant knowledge regarding the chemistry and mode of action of pregnancy-related traditional medicines, or isihlambezo (Zulu), which are used by 60 to 80% of women in South Africa. The three selected plants are among the six most frequently cited species from the approximately 90 used by traditional healers. The purpose of the study was to identify components which could cause uterine contractions, those with nutritional value for the foetus and mother, and those with any toxic effects. Plant root extracts were purified via silica gel column chromatography and bioassays were carried out on the fractions, using isolated rat uterine tissue. Purified compounds were identified via spectral techniques, and some were characterised by comparison to authentic standards using HPLC, and others by matching their GC-MS spectra to library standards. Thirty-eight compounds were identified in total, the majority of these being novel to the species concerned. Those isolated from Combretum kraussii were 1 sitosterol, 2 combretastatin, 3 3',4-tri-O-methylellagic acid, 4 combretastatin B-1, 5 combretastatin A-1, 6 3,3'-di-O-ellagic acid lactone, 7a ellagic acid lactone, 7b ellagic acid, 8 and 9 a mixture of combretastatin B-1 and A-1 glucosides, 10 and 11 partly characterised glucosides of ellagic acid. Those isolated from Gunnera perpensa were 12 3',4-tri-methylellagic acid, 13 ellagic acid lactone, 14 1,1'-biphenyl-4,4'-diacetic acid, 15 p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 16 Z-methyl lespedezate, 17 and 18 partly characterized higher glucosides of Z-methyllespedezate. Those isolated rom Rhoicissus tridentata were 19 (-)-epigallocatechin, 20 (+)-gallocatechin, 21 procyanidin B3, 22 procyanidin B4, 23 (+)-catechin hydrate, 24 (+)-mollisacacidin, 25 (+)-epicatechin, 26 fisetinidol-(4a-8) catechin, 27 (-)-fisetinidol, 28 fisetinidol-(4b-8)catechin, 29 gallic acid, 30 epicatechin-3-0-gallate, 31 partly characterized hydrogel of glucose, 32 sitosterol, 33 sitosterolin, 34 y-sitosterol, 35 oleanolic acid, 36 lupen-3-one, 37 20-epi-y-taraxastananol and 38 triacontanol. The compounds with the greatest in vitro uteroactivity were predominantly proanthocyanidins or phenolic glucosides. It is proposed that effects of phenolic glucosides could be due to the interaction of the sugar moiety as well as the phenolic moiety with the receptor site in muscle tissue. The corresponding phenolic aglycones isolated were only moderately uterotonic, or unreactive by comparison. Non-polar compounds such as sitosterol and sitosterolin showed minimal enhancement of the uterine response at low concentrations, and inhibition at higher concentrations. Aqueous root extracts of the plants were all found to be non-toxic according to cell-viability tests using monkey vero cells and human fibroblasts. Extracts are therefore considered safe for human consumption, although it is recommended that Rhoicissus tridentata be used with caution because it showed the lowest cell viability of the three species, and uterine hyperstimulation has been attributed to this species, as well as CNS depression and respiratory arrest. Ions which could be nutritionally beneficial in pregnancy, calcium, iron, and phospate, were present in low in aqueous extracts. Levels of calcium and potassium ions were considered to be too low to directly stimulate uterine muscle. Proanthocyanidins, combretastatins, ellagic acid derivatives and phytosterols, with health-promoting properties, were also identified. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2004.

This study aims to explore educators' understandings of the effects of hunger and malnutrition on learners' academic performance. The study reveals that there are various social conditions that contribute to poor learner performance at school such as poor family background, absenteeism due to hunger, diseases, pedagogic relationship and high levels of unemployment. It came to light from the study that, in spite of the attempts by the Department of Basic Education to eradicate hunger by, for example, providing child support grants and the Nutrition Programme, there are other challenges that hinder learners' progress. The study reveals that the majority of children are orphans and come from impoverished backgrounds. They come to school hungry without breakfast and without lunch-boxes. They do not have the educational materials that are needed by the educators. The study reveals that vulnerable learners, coming from impoverished backgrounds are victims of the situations as they face many problems that hinder their well-being, both at home and at school. The study also reveals that, if a child lives in poverty, that child might perform poorly at school. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Medicinal plants, as part of traditional ingestion practices, may contain antioxidants to combat the oxidative stress which is implicated in prediabetes as well as many of the complications of diabetes, As Indigenous Peoples move further from their traditional lifestyles, and therefore their use of medicinal plants, incidence of diabetes has increased dramatically, Those medicinal plants of the boreal forest that have been used for 3 or more symptoms of diabetes or its complications were selected for analysis. Three different assays (DPPH, NBT/xanthine oxidase and DCF/APPH) determined the antioxidant activity of 35 medicinal plant species. The majority of the species (89%) had free radical scavenging activity significantly greater than the market produce tested (Tukey, P < 0.05), 63% had superoxide scavenging activities similar to vitamin C, and eight species had free radical scavenging activity similar to green tea. Considering that many of these species are also used for food or beverage they represent an antioxidant benefit to the traditional lifestyle. Among the parts used medicinally, roots and barks were used the most frequently with activity in the order of fruit > bark > leaves > roots. The perennials selected had activity in rank trees > shrubs > herbs and the activity associated with habitat found rocky areas > woodland > wet/boggy habitats. Species used for symptoms such as diarrhea, rheumatism, tonic and heart/chest pain were typically high in antioxidant activity. Using cluster analysis it was determined that species used for diarrhea and heart disease as well as those used for a combination of tonic, sores, urinary, blood, pregnancy and boils could also be species with high antioxidant activity. The greater the number of symptoms a species was used for, the greater the activity. Three species with high antioxidant activities, Rhus hirta, Cornus stolonifera and Solidago canadensis, inhibited TNF production in human macrophage cells suggesting a po

The dietary outcomes of a school-based heart health promotion program in a low-income, multiethnic, inner-city neighbourhood of Montreal, Canada, were investigated. Eight intervention schools and sixteen control schools participated in the project from 1993 to 1997. Twenty-four hour recall data, as well as data on anthropometric and sociodemographic characteristics, were collected from a subsample of all students in grades 4--6 (aged 9--12 years) at baseline (n = 498), after two years (n = 491), and after four years (n = 347). There were no significant differ in nutrient intakes between 1995 and 1997, so these data were combined for analyses. Compared to students in control schools, students exposed to the program had a significantly increased mean intake of vitamin C per 1000 kcal (4184 kJ) (p = 0.0013). Compared to students in designated intervention schools at baseline, mean make of vitamin C per 1000 kcal was significantly increased (p = 0.002) and mean folate intake was significantly domed (p = 0.0058) in exposed to the program. When the intervention group was restricted to only those students who had received 16 hours or more of program exposure (n = 113), there were no significant differences in any nutrient intakes when compared to control students or students in intervention schools at baseline. This program was unsuccessful in changing nutrient intakes of school-aged children, contributing further evidence that conscious dietary change is difficult to achieve by means of a school-based program with a reasonable number of curriculum hours.

This thesis consists of a brief description on cancer, carcinogenesis, the changes in the type and level of dietary fat available in our diets over time and association with the development of certain diseases. The main focus of this research was on omega 6 and omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFA) and their interaction with regards to carcinogenesis.

Mounted ill. / Offprint of the author's journal article in pocket / Includes bibliographies / xiii, 248 leaves, [50] leaves of plates, [3] folded leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, 1985

Thesis (MNutrition )ITE))--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: The primary objective was to determine whether pregnant women visiting primary health care clinics (PHCs) were aware of the nutritional supplementation programmes: Nutrition Supplementation Programme (NSP) food, folate-, iron- and vitamin A supplementation. The secondary objective was to determine whether pregnant women qualified for the NSP food-, folate- and iron supplementation. The third objective was to determine whether those who qualified received the prescribed NSP food-, folate-, and iron supplementation and whether they were compliant with these interventions. Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at all PHCs hosting basic antenatal clinics in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Method: One hundred and fourteen pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study using a non-random quota sampling strategy. Pregnant women were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. The mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) was measured and the symphysis-fundus (SF) measurement was obtained from the medical files to determine whether participants met the entry criteria for the NSP. Written informed consent was obtained from participants. Results: Fifty per cent of participants were between 12 and 24 weeks of gestation. Most of them (68%) had an MUAC of between 24,7 cm and 34,4 cm. Fifty (44%) of the participants had a sufficient SF measurement. Twenty-one (18%) of the participants indicated that they were aware of the vitamin A Programme, 56 (49%) were aware of the NSP food-supplementation and 79 (70%) knew about the folicand iron supplementation that pregnant women should receive from the clinic. Six (5%) participants qualified for the NSP with an MUAC of below 23 cm. Only one (17%) participant was registered with the NSP and received the food-supplementation. Seventy (61%) of the participants indicated that they received and used the iron- and folic supplements, of which 30 (43%) did not know why they needed to take these supplements. Conclusion: Folate- and iron supplementation appears to be reasonably successfully implemented in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area among pregnant women visiting PHCs. The NSP food-supplementation, however, appears to be unsuccessfully implemented and needs further attention. Resources could be appointed to inform pregnant women about the reasons for and importance of taking these supplements. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Die hoofdoelstelling was om te bepaal of swanger vroue wat primêre gesondheidsorgklinieke (PGK’s) bywoon, bewus was van die voeding supplementasie programme: Voedsel Supplementasie Program (VSP) – voedselaanvulling, folaat-, yster- en vitamien A supplementasie. Die tweede doelstelling was om te bepaal of hierdie swanger vroue in aanmerking kom vir die VSP– voedselaanvulling, folaat- en yster supplementasie. Die derde doelstelling was om te bepaal of hierdie swanger vroue die voorgeskrewe VSP – voedselaanvulling, folaat- en yster supplementasie ontvang het en hierdie intervensies nagevolg het. Ontwerp: ʼn Deursnit beskrywende studie is gedoen en data is ingesamel van al die PGK’s wat voorgeboortelike klinieke huisves in die Kaapstadse metropolitaanse gebied, in die Wes-Kaapprovinsie, Suid-Afrika. Metode: Honderd en veertien swanger vroue wat aan die insluitingskriteria voldoen het, is volgens ʼn nie-ewekansige kwotastrategie uitgesoek om aan die studie deel te neem. Onderhoude is volgens ʼn bevestigde vraelys met swanger vroue gevoer. Die omtrek van die middelboarm is geneem en die symphysis-fundus-meting is van die mediese lêers verkry om te bepaal of deelnemers aan die insluitingskriteria vir die VSP voldoen. Deelnemers het ʼn vrywaringsvorm geteken voordat hulle aan die studie begin deelneem het. Resultate: Vyftig persent van die swanger vroue het ʼn gestasie-ouderdom van tussen 12 en 24 weke gehad. Die omtrek van die meeste vroue (68%) se middelboarm was tussen 24,7 cm en 34,4 cm. Vyftig (44%) van die vroue se symphysis-fundusmeting was voldoende. Een en twintig (18%) van die deelnemers het aangedui dat hulle van die Vitamien A-program bewus was, 56 (49%) was van die VSPvoedselaanvulling bewus en 79 (70%) van die deelnemers was bewus van die folaat- en yster supplementasie wat swanger vroue van die kliniek behoort te ontvang. Ses (5%) deelnemers, met ʼn middelboarm-omtrek van minder as 23 cm, het vir die VSP in aanmerking gekom. Slegs een (17%) deelnemer was geregistreer en het die voedselaanvulling ontvang. Sewentig (61%) van die deelnemers het aangedui dat hul wel yster- en folaat supplementasie ontvang en gebruik, waarvan 30 (43%) nie geweet het waarom hulle dié supplemente neem nie. Gevolgtrekking: Dit wil voorkom asof folaat- en yster supplementasie vir swanger vroue wat PGK’s in die Kaapstadse metropolitaanse gebied besoek, redelik suksesvol toegepas word. Daarteenoor word die VSP – voedselaanvulling onsuksesvol uitgevoer en behoort dit verdere aandag te geniet. Hulpbronne kan aangewys word om swanger vroue beter in te lig oor die doel en belangrikheid daarvan om hierdie supplemente te neem.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-01-14Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:05:30Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_vg_dr_botfmvz.pdf: 418050 bytes, checksum: ff8ea12e28e936c31b32dcbb33f589a4 (MD5) / Avaliou-se a ação imunoestimulante da própolis bruta em dietas para tilápia-do-Nilo submetidas a desafio com a Aeromonas hydrophila. Foram alojados 280 peixes (50 ± 5,7 g) em 35 aquários circulares (250 L), oito peixes/aquário. O delineamento estatístico utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, caracterizado por sete tratamentos, dieta controle e as demais com suplementação de própolis de 0,5; 1,0; 1,5; 2,0; 2,5 e 3,0% com cinco repetições. Os peixes foram pesados no início e final do experimento para avaliação dos parâmetros de desempenho produtivo. Após trinta dias, 16 peixes de cada tratamento foram anestesiados com benzocaína (1,0g/15L de água) para coleta do sangue e avaliação dos parâmetros hematológicos e imunológicos, caracterizando período anterior ao desafio bacteriano. Os parâmetros hematológicos e imunológicos avaliados foram: número de eritrócitos, porcentagem de hematócrito, taxa de hemoglobina, volume corpuscular médio (VCM), concentração de hemoglobina corpuscular média (CHCM) e peróxido de hidrogênio e óxido nitrico (NO). Em seguida, oito peixes de cada tratamento foram inoculados com injeção intraperitoneal com cultura da bactéria contendo 2,0x107UFC/mL e transferidos para 28 aquários plásticos (40L), dois peixes por aquário. Os mesmos parâmetros foram avaliados após 15 dias. Os resultados demonstraram que níveis elevados de própolis bruta influenciaram na redução do ganho de peso e da hemoglobina e aumento do NO. Comparando-se os momentos, observou-se que após o desafio, os peixes apresentaram valores menores de hematócrito, VCM, neutrófilos e NO e maior CHCM. Concluiu-se que a própolis bruta interferiu no crescimento e na saúde da tilápia-do-Nilo / Immunostimulant effects of crude propolis supplementation on diets to Nile tilapia, submitted to Aeromonas hydrophila, were investigated. Thus, 280 Nile tilapia (initial weight = 50 ± 5,7 g/fish), were allocated in 35 tanks (250 l), eight fish/tank. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, characterized by seven treatments, diet control and the other with propolis supplementation of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0% with five repetitions. The fish were weighed at the beginning and final of experimental for evaluating the performance parameters. After thirty days, 16 fishes/treatment were anesthetized with benzocaine (1.0g/15L of water), and collected blood to evaluation to haematological and immunological parameters, characterizing the period before to bacterial challenge. The parameters analized were: red blood cell count , haematocrit, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide (NO). Then, eight fish of each treatment were inoculated with intraperitoneal injection with culture of A. Hydrophila containing 2.0x107UFC/mL, and transferred to twenty eight plastic tanks (40L), and two fishes per tank. The same haematological and immunological parameters were evaluated after fifteen days. The results showed that high levels of crude propolis influence at decrease of weight gain and Hb, an increase of NO. Comparing the moments, was observed that after challenge the fishes showed low value of Htc, MCV, neutrophils and NO, also high value of MCHC. It was concluded that crude propolis affect the growth and health of the-Nile tilapia