Isolation, purification, and full NMR assignments of cyclopamine from Veratrum californicum.

Background: The Hedgehog signaling pathway is essential for embryogenesis and for tissue homeostasis in the adult. However, it may induce malignancies in a number of tissues when constitutively activated, and it may also have a role in other forms of normal and maladaptive growth. Cyclopamine, a naturally occurring steroidal alkaloid, specifically inhibits the Hedgehog pathway by binding directly to Smoothened, an important Hedgehog response element.

New constituents from noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit juice.

Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae), known as noni, has a long history of traditional use in the Hawaiian and Tahitian islands. More recently, an array of commercial noni fruit juice products are gaining popularity as dietary supplements, with claims of anticancer and immunostimulant activities.

An agromedicine initiative for first-year medical students, 1998-2004: biochemistry seminar proves feasible.

This report describes a 20 class-hour, 10-session seminar on agromedicine-oriented topics, delivered as part of a basic science course for medical students (biochemistry) at the Medical University of South Carolina. The course was initiated in 1998 and continued through 2004. The preceptors are family medicine and agricultural research professors.

Antiproliferative activities of parthenolide and golden feverfew extract against three human cancer cell lines.

The medicinal herb feverfew [Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz-Bip.] has long been used as a folk remedy for the treatment of migraine and arthritis.

Parthenolide and abscisic acid synthesis in feverfew are associated but environmental factors affect them dissimilarly.

The effect of harvest time, shading prior to harvest and water stress on parthenolide (PRT) concentration in feverfew and its possible connection with the abscisic acid (ABA) pathway were investigated. In plants harvested at different times of the day, acetumar the PRT levels were highest during late afternoon while ABA levels were greatest during morning hours. Shading plants during the afternoon prior to harvest caused a two-fold increase in ABA and no significant difference in PRT levels.

Revival of herbalism and its roots in medicine.

The proper use of phytomedicines in human health care may add a dimension currently lacking in the United States in the treatment of certain diseases and syndromes. Sales of botanicals have been rising for the past few years and are expected to increase 12% to 16% annually for the next few years. As agriculturists, we are developing production techniques using good management practices to grow and process these new crops.

Food safety in the United States and abroad: an agriculturist's perspective.

The topic of food safety in the U.S. frequently is the lead story in the news media and continues to be an important issue for biological scientists of all disciplines.