Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2012

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Chemistry

Committee Chair

Dr. Gil Belofsky, Department of Chemistry

Second Committee Member

Dr. Todd Kroll, Department of Chemistry

Third Committee Member

Dr. Audrey D. Huerta, Director Science Honors Research Program

Abstract

The goal of this research was to find compounds with the potential for use as medicines. Many microorganisms use a mechanism known as active efflux to move antibiotics out of cells. As a result, the effectiveness of antibiotics may be partially or completely reduced allowing the pathogen to survive. A major theme of this research was to look for compounds in plants that inhibit active efflux processes and that are related to multi-drug resistance. After the diffusion of an antibiotic into a bacterial cell, an efflux pump inhibitor may prevent the antibiotic from being expelled from the organism, leading to rapid cell death. Efflux pump inhibitors may therefore be helpful to increase the potency and useful lifespan of antibiotics. We also screened for compounds showing neuropharmacological activity in a dopamin-D1 radioligand binding/displacement assay. The dopamine assay consisted of dopamine receptors, a control, and plant extracts, where the control and plant compounds competed for the binding site of the dopamine receptor.

Comments

This thesis has been digitized and made available as part of the University’s ongoing preservation and access initiatives. Copyright is retained by the original author. The University has made a good faith effort to review this work for copyright and privacy concerns prior to digitization. If you are the author or a rights holder and have questions, concerns or wish to request removal, please contact ScholarWorks@cwu.edu.

Download

Share

COinS