Ancient Medicine- Modern Approach
The apricot kernel is believed to have a great medicinal value in many cultures. However, literature and research indicates that this belief still remains extremely controversial and conclusions regarding the medicinal value are ambiguous due to the presence of cyanide in the kernel. The focus of this research was to evaluate two objectives through the use of several integrated technologies and modified methods: (a) To successfully remove the cyanide from the apricot kernel using an adapted method; (b) To determine the effects of the cyanide free apricot kernel extracts on Helicobacter pylori and Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. Procedures The apricot kernels were removed from the pits and then ground using a food processor. The kernels were then tested for cyanide using a cyanide test kit and Cyantesmo test tape. These tests indicated that cyanide was present. A novel approach was devised to remove the cyanide and when retested, the kernels tested negative for cyanide. This result was confirmed with Infrared Spectroscopy. The cyanide free kernels were then extracted using a Soxhlet Extractor with methanol for 24 hours. In addition to the methanol extraction, three other techniques were used to obtain kernel extracts: (a) Celite filtration, (b) Infusion Method A, (c) Infusion Method B. The Kirby Bauer method was modified for the microbiology aspect of this project. The Helicobacter pylori and Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria were plated using a 0.5 McFarland Standard. Paper filter discs containing 20µL of each extract were placed onto the inoculated plates in replicates of nine. After 48 hours of incubation, the zones of inhibition were read for each plate. Data The results were extremely encouraging and therefore to ensure the accuracy and preciseness of the data collected, four statistical analyses were completed. These include Confidence Intervals (CI), Standard Deviation (STDEV), T-Tests, and Chi Tests. The methanol extract was significantly different from the control in all trials. The Chi test also yielded a Chi Square value of 223, which was significantly greater than the critical value of 15.507, indicating that the results observed were not due to coincidence. Conclusion Literature evidence has indicated that the apricot kernel has been and is still used for medicinal purposes. Studies have shown that the presence of cyanide and the risks associated with this compound outweigh any benefits gained from the kernel. It has also been suggested that previous bacterial testing resulting in positive inhibition may have been due to the presence of cyanide. However, in this study, I was able to remove the cyanide through an innovative method to prove that the biological activity observed was highly unlikely to be due to cyanide. This indicates that there are other compound(s) in the apricot kernel that have specific antibacterial properties. The potential to improve the quality of life through the application of the apricot kernel appears to be supported, and further studies justified at this time.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE ELECTRICITY GENERATED FROM FRUIT EXTRACTS OF CALAMANSI (Citrofortunella microcarpa), CAMIAS (Averrhoa bilimbi), AND STARFRUIT (Averrhoa carambola)
The study aimed to compare the electricity generated from the fruit extracts of calamansi, camias and starfruit. Unripe fruits were extracted and varied percentage compositions of each extract were prepared.Wires wereconnected to a multi-tester (voltmeter or ammeter) to measure voltage or current that passes through. Results revealed, that amount of voltage and electric current generated are its lowest reading at 25% and are its highest reading at 100%. Nonetheless, of the three fruit extracts, it’s the calamansi that has the highest amount of voltage generated of0.97 volt while camias has the highest amount of electric current generated of 13.98 mA. Using ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance on the amount of voltage generated among varied percentage compositions of three extracts. However, there’s a significant difference on the amount of electric generated among varied percentage compositions. Results of ANOVA statistically signify that the three different extracts could either be used as a source of voltage and that camias extract should be preferably used over the other two fruit extracts in generating electric current. In all compositions, produced voltage is between 0.88 and 0.97 volts and current is between 3.28 and 13.98 mA. These currents produced are not enough to turn on a small light bulb having a smallest voltage capacity of 1.2 volt, but can be able to turn on a light-emitting diode (LED) that require such amount of current.
Reactions of Bis(oxy)enamines with O-Nucleophiles in the Presence of Metal Salts
NO donors are an emerging class of pharmaceutical compounds, with many important functions in the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems. With great therapeutic potential, the development of new NO donor compounds would be of great medicinal value, potentially opening a whole class of drugs to be used to treat various ailments. This project studies a specific class of compounds, substituted cyclic oxime ethers, which have proven to be useful intermediates in fields such as medicine and biochemistry. The cyclic structure along with a determinable substitutable group at the C3 position is highly valuable, as it allows the oxime ether to act as a convenient precursor for a variety of useful products, playing key components in many drugs. And with a substituted nitrate group, which is an O-nucleophile, the oxime ether has the potential to become an NO-donor, and hence become a possible intermediate in a wide array of NO donor drugs. Co(NO)3 was used in the synthesis of the cyclic oxime ether, directly from a phenyl substituted bis(oxy)enamine intermediate, producing an entirely new compound: α-hydroxyoxime nitrates, the oxime ether being substituted with a nitrate group. This new reaction of the synthesis of α-hydroxyoxime nitrates was further studied for optimization purposes, in order to open a new class of NO donor precursors. In addition, other nucleophiles were also explored in this class of reactions, forming important bonds such as C-N and C-S bonds, with key structures for other types of synthesis intermediates and precursors. Different metal nitrates, or various other nucleophiles in place of the nitrates, were used in reaction with bis(oxy)enamine, and the yield and structure of the final products were determined by NMR spectra. Successful optimization of the synthesis of α-hydroxyoxime nitrates has been achieved, where the conditions for optimum synthesis involve using Cr(NO3)3•9H2O which achieved a high yield of 76%, dissolved in THF with the bis(oxy)enamine starting compound. It has been determined that the metal in the salt affects the reaction pathway, as the nature of the metal cation affects its efficiency to cleave the N-O bond in the starting compound (with d-block elements being the best performing), and H+ ions can promote the reaction as well. Also, the reaction proceeds with different types of bis(oxy)enamines, meaning the substrate scope can be expanded to give a variety of products. The reaction can also proceed to form other products with different nucleophiles other than the nitrate group, where the C-N and C-S bonds were successfully formed in the reactions from bis(oxy)enamine to oxime ether. Thus, this class of reaction in converting the bis(oxy)enamine to a cyclic oxime ether has potentially opened a new class of NO donor compounds, and further possesses the potential to form a wide variety of products to be used in other important synthesis procedures.
What really attracts boys to girls
The purpose of this research was to challenge misconceptions about what attracts teenaged boys to girls. It has been observed that some teenaged girls hold stereotypes about boys and believe boys are only attracted to superficial qualities like beautiful hair. The aim is to investigate differences between what girls believe boys find attractive about them and what boys actually find attractive about girls. Hypothesis: There is a significant difference between what teenaged boys find attractive in girls and what teenaged girls think boys find attractive. Procedure Background reading was done to discover which characteristics are commonly used to measure attractiveness among teenagers. A survey questionnaire was used for gathering data. To gather information for the construction of the questionnaire, 4 focus groups were interviewed. The groups were asked to determine indicators of attraction and repulsion. Two separate questionnaires were designed (one for boys and one for girls), based on focus group information, with similar questions which could be used to compare results. Questions were related to personality and looks. The research was representative as 399 teenagers participated in the final survey. Results were collated in Excel tables. Percentages were calculated by using a scientific calculator and Excel. A bivariate analysis was created to examine the main question: ranking qualities that attract boys to girls. A comparison was made between boys’ and girls’ opinions from different age categories. Mean averages were calculated for this question. Other questions were analysed using mode averages translated into percentage of each gender. Graphs were designed using the values calculated. Observations/Data/Results 72% of boys prefer a girl with average looks and an awesome personality but only 37% of girls believed that to be true. The average boys from 12-14, 15-17 and 18-20 year old categories agree that confidence, humour, a nice body, politeness and intelligence are the five most attractive qualities in a girl they would consider dating. The order of these five change across the age groups but are constantly the top five, however confidence and humour always trump a “nice body”. The average 12-14 and 15-17 year old girl overrates a nice body and underrates politeness and intelligence but confidence and humour feature in their top five. The average 18-20 year old girl agrees with the boys priorities. When defining what makes a girl beautiful, 68% of boys highlight personality traits and 59% of boys mentioned physical features. When noting what repulses boys about pretty girls, more than 50% of both sexes agree that smelling bad was most off putting. 52% of boys mentioned taking drugs as unattractive yet only 23% of girls recognized this as repulsive. Conclusions The data supports the hypothesis. Confidence and humour are more important to the average boy than a nice body across all age groups. The younger the girl, the less she understands what attracts boys. 63% of teenaged girls believe that looks are more important to boys than personality. This is clearly not true. 72% of boys value a great personality more highly than good looks.