This thesis studied three plants traditionally used for treating a variety of anxiety related conditions. The three species were Roseroot, Rhodiola rosea from Nunavik, Cordonsillo, Piper amalago from Belize and “Sin Susto”, Souroubea sympetala from Costa Rica. The main objective of this research project was to investigate effects on behavior of these traditionally used native plants. It was found that the crude ethanol extracts derived from these plants administered intragastrically had measurable anxiolytic effects in male Sprague Dawley rats. Rats treated with extracts of these plants were then tested in several behavioral paradigms: elevated plus maze (EPM), social interaction (SI), conditioned emotional response (CER) and fear potentiated startle FPS. “Sin susto” produced significant anti-anxiety effects in several paradigms. Its active principle, betulinic acid, was significantly active in the EPM and FPS at a dose of 0.5mg/kg. Cordonsillo had strong activity in the SI paradigm and Roseroot in the CER paradigm. The results suggest that traditional use is based on pharmacological activity of the plants.

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The movements of digestion markers in the gut of the rat were investigated and the results of the investigation are reported in two manuscripts. The objective of the first study was to determine the influence of particle size of dietary wheat bran, chosen as a representative insoluble fiber, on the mean retention time (MRT) of digesta in the rat. The study design included a control group to detect the influence of particle size of digestion marker on the observed retention times. Additionally, a comparison was made between bran and the soluble fiber pectin. Both the soluble cobalt EDTA (Co EDTA) and insoluble chromium mordanted bran (CrMB), of two size ranges were administered to 4 groups of rats fed a semi-purified diet supplemented with wheat bran or pectin (10% dilution). Bran size and particulate marker size were large/large, large/small, small/small and pectin/small for the 4 groups. Mean retention times for CrMB were significantly longer in the pectin than the bran supplemented groups. Differences were not significantly different within the bran supplemented group. No significant differences were found between the rate of passage of CrMB and Co EDTA in any group. The second study was designed to identify pooling of markers in the rat gut. A mathematical model was developed as a system of equations which predicted the marker distribution along the gut following dosing. The model assumed that two pools, the stomach and cecum, were kinetically recognizable in the rat. The predicted distribution of CrMB and Co EDTA was compared to in vivo distribution at 4 h intervals by sequential termination and dissection of the animals. The smaller particle bran had a longer MRT in the cecum and a shorter MRT in the proximal colon. Total MRT to the mid-colon was similar in all bran supplemented groups. Pectin fed animals had significantly enlarged gut organs which explained the slower movement of marker in these animals. The cecum was found to delay the transit of marker from the small intestine to the proximal colon as much as 2.1 h. This delay resulted in the gut appearing as a single pool overall and therefore led the model to overpredict the initial rate of appearance of marker distal to the cecum. A streamlined system was developed to digest the fecal samples in preparation for atomic absorption spectroscopy, the method used to quantify digestion marker recovery. The development of the method is discussed and supporting data are presented on the reproducibility and limits of the method. / Graduation date: 1991

Typescript. / Bibliography: leaves [89]-97. / vii, 106 l illus., tables

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii, 1969. / Bibliography: leaves 136-144. / xii, 144 l

Bibliography: leaves 179-231. / xv, 234 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The aim of this thesis is to characterise the oophorectomised rat model for post menopausal bone loss by determining the effect of oophorectomy on calcium balance and the components of calcium balance in young and adult rats. The study utilises the metabolic calcium balance technique for this purpose. Many of the characteristics of the animal model are described particularly in terms of the effects of oophorectomy on bone histomorphometry and metabolic markers of bone turnover. The study characterises the changes in calcium balance and its components through the growth period. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physiology, 1996

xix, 207 leaves : ill., diagrs., graphs, tables, photo. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.1980)--The Dept. of Animal Physiology, University of Adelaide

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