| Abstract Detail
Phytochemical Section Koziura, Karl J [1], Ross Friedman, Cynthia [1]. Do extracts from dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium, Viscaceae) affect the viability of salmon cells in tissue culture? The lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobium americanum Nutt. ex Engelm., is a parasitic plant that lives on lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) in British Columbia. This small plant obtains nutrients from its host at a great rate. The parasite disperses its seeds by explosive discharge, which allows further parasitism of the original host as well as spread to neighboring trees. Through multiple infections, A. americanum will be detrimental to the host, and can eventually kill it. Recent research at Thompson Rivers University has shown that a methanolic extract of A. americanum has antibacterial activity. Upon initial purification, the antibacterial activity separates into a “6 methanol: 4 water fraction” (as opposed to a “hexanes” fraction). The objective of the work presented here is to determine what effects the antibacterial “6: 4 fraction” has on animal cells, and to compare these with a non-antibacterial “hexanes” fraction. Salmon epithelial cells in 1mL tissue culture were exposed to 2.5, 5.0, or 7.5mg of either the “6:4” or the “hexanes” fraction. An apoptosis test was performed on the cells after exposure to the fractions for 1 hour. Necrosis was not substantially triggered by the “6:4” nor the “hexanes” fraction, although the “hexanes” fraction induced more necrosis than the “6:4” at higher dosages. Both fractions induced apoptosis as dosage increased, but the “hexanes” fraction induced apoptosis at a lower dosage than the “6:4.” More work is needed to elucidate if the antibacterial compound(s) in the “6:4” and those inducing apoptosis are the same.
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1 - Thompson Rivers University, Department of Biological Sciences, Box 3010, 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 5N3, Canada
Keywords:
Arceuthobium americanum
Dwarf mistletoe
apoptosis
lodgepole pine.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 57
Location: 211/SUB
Date: Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
Time: 8:45 AM
Number: 57002
Abstract ID:628 |
