College life- Transferring into a career

There are traits that I have acquired throughout college that I hope to carry on to my career upon graduation. Three of those traits are resiliency, honesty, and balance. There have been many obstacles on my way to be where I am in my education journey. At one point, I was working full time. There was no time to go to college. And I couldn't stop working since I would be left without a way to pay for a babysitter. I wanted my education so bad, that I enrolled at a college closer to my work so I could go to one lecture during my lunch break. So, I did. I went for lecture two times a week during my lunch break and on monday nights to lab. It was only one class but it propelled me to pursue leaving my job and enrolling full time. Honesty is something I have valued all thru my life. But in college, I have seen the rewards of being honest with others the most. Professors are more willing to work with a student if they are honest and forthcoming. In my future career, I hope to be honest with my superiors whenever I need help. Balance has been a constant struggle with college life and family. I feel as if I finally have reached a point where I can freely say no to other commitments to be able to do homework. Being able to say no to certain social engagements has allowed me time to finish my homework comfortably so I can attend family events as they come up. I look forward to carrying on to my future career much more than just book smarts. Traits that will help me succeed in life are also learned in college.

My future dream career

This is my junior year pursuing my degree in science. My official degree is bachelor degree in pharmacology/ toxicology. In the future, I would like to do research with the help of my degree. It seems very interesting to be able to manipulate genes in plants to create more sustainable and tolerant food crops to feed the world. Recently I learned a bit about Norman Borlaug. He bred certain types of wheat to create a short stemmed class of wheat that helped agriculture tremendously. It seems amazing to me how one scientist can help the farmers of this world without being a farmer himself. I have a great amount of respect for the farmers who put food on our tables and would love to help them feed the world.

Reflections On My Online Presence

This week I have been thinking about the kind of image that I would like to portray online. Recently, I have created a Wix website at the prompt of my STEM professor. And, I realize I would like to have more research under my belt. I am in my second semester of organic chemistry, so I feel as if I still don't understand much of what I could bring to a research team. Ultimately, I will just jump into it. I wish to learn and that will be exactly what I will bring to the table, a clean slate. I am now looking for research opportunities and will update here once I do get a position somewhere. I will do so because I don't just want to have something to beef up my website, I want the experience more than anything. Have a great week! -Wendy

My Online Presence

Like most people, I have social media. I am aware some prospective employers check social media platforms to check on the profiles of prospective employees. But I have never been too worried about my own profiles. As a rule of thumb, I tend to stay away from talking about politics or other controversial topics when online AND when in person. I acknowledge the most people have differing viewpoints and experiences which might affect the way they feel and defend their viewpoints. I have seen and felt the strenght of some individuals passion towards certain issues, and it has scared me at times. This and my need to feel accepted tend to push me into only posting positive, uplifting messages. I usually post pictures of my children and of nature. This is truly how I feel on the inside as well since the things that bring me the most joy are family and nature.

End of Semester

Hello, Finally! The semester is over. This one was a special one. This was my last semester at Phoenix College before transferring to ASU West, and I am over the moon excited! I am very grateful to this program, I wish I had joined earlier in my education. A big thanks to Joshua James and Amanda Chapman. Thank you for guiding me thru this process. And thank you to all of my peers. You are all so brilliant and inspire me so much. Your presentations were phenomenal! I hope to see you all in the future. Maybe there will be a reunion someday, and we can have those chimichangas. Have a wonderful summer, Wendy

May 13th

Hello, Welcome back! While doing my research, I was very surprised that some of my most in-depth sources are papers written in the early 1900’s. Once upon a time, I was once told that a man with the name of Rockefeller had changed the medicine industry. I didn’t think much of it but decided to look into it now. I learned that in the early 1900’s Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, both very wealthy, influential men, brought about capitalism to the health care industry and re-invented the medical curriculum being taught in schools at that time. There is a book that was written in 1979 by Richard E. Brown that I plan on ordering and reading over the summer. The book is called: Rockefeller Medicine Men : Medicine and Capitalism in America. Perhaps this might explain why research on plants being used as medicine is not so easily available as plants are not so easily obtained throughout the world but a pill can be distributed without loosing it’s freshness. Thank you for visiting! Wendy Reference: https://digitalcommons.rockefeller.edu/the-rockefellers/37/

May 6th

Hello there! We are nearing the end of the semester and rushing to get as much information into our brains as possible. Here’s a brief reminder: You’ve got this! This week I am getting my research together and finding as much as possible on my plants. In my list, there are four different plants with the ‘Prunus’ prefix and four with the ‘Lupinus’ prefix. All these names sure make me wish I knew Latin. I haven’t come across the language in community college but will hopefully be able to take it later at the university level. For now, I have just finished French 101 and am very proud of it. We’ve got this.

Image created by: Me!

Mid-April

Hello friends, April has been rushing by and we are about a month away from the end of the semester. I haven’t had much time to work on my research as I have been busy with classes. But, this research always gets me in a good mood so I’ll be spending this weekend working on it. This week I have been studying Helenium Autumnale, otherwise known as ‘Sneezeweed’. This is a prairie wildflower that blooms from June to October. There are many Helenium varieties but the Autumnale is the one on my list. It is known to be toxic to grazing animals such as sheep. It upsets their stomach. This seems very odd seeing how it has been used by humans as a remedy for colds and diseases of the chest. I have yet to find how the plant was prepared. Have a wonderful week! -Wendy

References: • Elecampane. (2018). In P. Lagasse, & Columbia University, The Columbia encyclopedia (8th ed.). Columbia University Press. Credo Reference: https://ezproxy.pc.maricopa.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/columency/elecampane/0?institutionId=5317 • Wang et al. (2018) Total sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Inula helenium L. attenuates 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in mice. Phytomedicine. Volume 46, Pages 78-84. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711318301363 • https://www.izelplants.com/native-perennials/helenium-autumnale-common-sneezeweed/

Fagopyrum Esculentum

This week, I studied Fagopyrum Esculentum, otherwise known as Buckwheat. This plant was originally tagged for me as toxic by the USDA website. It was really surprising to find out that it is known as Buckwheat and is used for purposes for human consumption. Not only is it high in nutrients, but it is also flavorful. “So, why is this classified as toxic?” said I. Well, it turns out, the plant is toxic, but the ripe seeds are not toxic! The ripe seeds are the parts that are used for making buckwheat flour. The plant itself, on the other hand, contains Fagopyrin. This chemical reacts to ultraviolet rays when it is already inside the body! This happens particularly in non-pigmented skin. It irritates the blood vessels and it sometimes takes up to three months to recuperate. In this picture, you can see the effects of the Fagopyrin chemical on the non-pigmented parts of the horse but not on the pigmented, brown, areas.

(2019) Guide to Poisonous Plants. Colorado State University, James L. Voss. Veterinary Teaching Hospital. https://csuvth.colostate.edu/poisonous_plants/Plants/Details/44 Kiprovski, B. et al. (2015) Comparison of Phenolic Profiles and Antioxidant Properties of European Fagopyrum Escalentum Cultivars. Food Chemistry. Volume 112, Issue 1, 1 January 2009, Pages 120-124. Elsevier Ltd.

April 1st

 Today while driving home from lab, I came across a podcast that made my drive home very enjoyable.  Not only was it enjoyable, but it was also informative and inspiring.

On the podcast, they were interviewing Dr. Marilyn Glassberg.

She spoke about the research her and her team did when the Covid-19 virus started. She mentioned the research some students had done was purely literary reviews, just like my current research. I had always thought meaningful research was the kind that involves a lab, so doing this research by researching literary reviews has not been as motivating as I hoped it would be. But, hearing about these students making a difference with their literary reviews has inspired me deeply. I am seeing my project with brand new eyes and enthusiasm.

So, for a little talk about my research this week.. here’s a little bit of food for thought: Apocynum Cannabinum, also known as ‘Dogbane’. Was used by natives in the Americas not only for its strong fibers to make ropes and baskets. But, it was also used for all kinds of ailments such as: headaches and cardiac issues. The root is able to be made into a mixture that helps hair grow and gets rid of dandruff.

 

Until next time,

Wendy

 

If you would like to listen to the podcast previously mentioned, go to:

https://phoenixmed.arizona.edu/podcasts , Episode 17 – Crisis Leadership: Innovating Treatment Protocols to Battle COVID-19

 

References:

Stevens, Michelle. (2000, December). Plant Guide Plant Materials Plant Fact Sheet/Guide Coordination Page National Plant Data Center INDIAN HEMP Apocynum cannabinum L. United States Department of Agriculture- Natural Resources Conservation Service. https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_apca.pdf

March 11, 2021

Hello there, and welcome back! These past two weeks have been a bit rough as midterms approached but I'm back and ready to go. Today I would like to talk about my research proposal. It's taken some thinking and re-thinking but I think it's finally getting clear as to where it is going. 

My topic: Beneficial Properties of the Most Toxic Plants in Arizona

I selected this topic because I would like to know which plants in my community are toxic to me and my loved ones but also to find out what kind of benefits they might bring about. Just like people, there might be something good about them. This topic is of significant importance because some plants might be beneficial to humans regardless of their toxicity. Specifying their benefits to humanity will help preserve plants that would otherwise be discarded and or destroyed by human habitants. It is important to educate the public so they can make more informed decisions regarding the plants on their properties. By educating the public, we can stop or slow down the destruction of commonly known toxic plants in our community.

I plan on doing this research by literature review. There is a vast amount of information available from published journals that can guide the research. The information will be compiled and focused on the five most toxic plants that are currently in Arizona. State Toxic Plants Types Native or non-native Toxic to Humans, Pets, or Both and their medicinal properties, if any.

Can a plant be both toxic and beneficial?

Thru this research, I expect to find which flowers and bushes are toxic, domestic or wild, as well as if they hold any beneficial properties. I expect to find more research explaining the effects on animals but not be as much research explaining the effects on humans.

The second Lantana- Lantana Camara

 

This week I studied Lantana Camara. I came across research explaining the toxic effects of animals eating Lantana Camara and how the toxicity manifests in the animal. The animals that have shown acute toxicity due to lantadenes are both ruminants and non-ruminants Ruminants are animals such as cattle and non-ruminants are animals such as rabbits. Lantadenes are toxins found in Lantana Camara. The precise names for these lantadenes are: Triterpene acids lantadene A and lantadene B. The most common symptoms of lantana toxicity in animals are: photosensitivity, inflammation in the eyes, and liver damage. If left untreated, it can cause death due to the liver and/ or organ failure and set in of secondary bacterial infection. They sure don't look as cute now.

  References:       

Cooper, R. G. (2007). Accidental Poisoning from Lantana camara (Cherry Pie) Hay Fed to Ostriches (Struthio camelus). Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, 31(3), 213–214.

 Kumar, R., Sharma, R., Patil, R. D., Mal, G., Kumar, A., Patial, V., Kumar, P., & Singh, B. (2018). Sub-chronic toxicopathological study of lantadenes of Lantana camara weed in Guinea pigs. BMC Veterinary Research, 14(1). https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A546840360/AONE?u=mcc_phoe&sid=AONE&xid=bdd7c40f

February 18th, 2021

 

Hello,

This week, I am researching the plant locally known as “lantana”. After much research online, I was able to narrow down to the types of lantanas that are living in Arizona. Not really sure if I should say ‘living in Arizona’ or ‘native to Arizona’. It is still not clear to me if these plants were brought to Arizona or if they are native. The USDA has lantanas as both, native AND introduced to Arizona. Hopefully by next week I will have more information on how they came to be in this state. So far, I have discovered three types of lantanas in Arizona: Lantana Achyrandthifolia, Lantana Camara, and Lantana Urticoides. A couple of articles are mentioning Lantanas as having medicinal properties. This is contradicting to my prior beliefs since I was under the impression that lantanas were toxic. How can a plant be toxic AND have medicinal properties? That is something I plan on finding out. See you back here real soon.

A thousand thanks:

·         https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/java/stateSearch

·         Joloba, M., Kirimuhuzya, C., Odyek, O., & Waako, P.  (2009, March) The anti-mycobacterial activity of Lantana camara a plant traditionally used to treat symptoms of tuberculosis in South-western Uganda. African Health Sciences, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2932521/#:~:text=Use%20of%20lantana%20extracts%20in,abdominal%20viscera%2C%20is%20also%20reported.

Image Copyrights: https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/230099/#b

Feb. 11th

Hello! And welcome to my blog. Although we don’t have access to a lab at this moment, learning doesn’t have to stop. This semester, I will be doing research on beautiful, yet poisonous plants here in Arizona.

The contenders on my list are:

Lantanas

Pothos (yes, those we tend to keep in the kitchen)

Desert thorn

Russian thistle

Water hemlock

I will be researching their benefits; whether they are toxic to humans, animals, or both; whether they are native or were they introduced to our landscape, and if they are invasive. Towards the end of my research, I will also be hiking the most popular nearby mountains and try to spot any of these plants out in nature to see how easy or hard it is to come across these plants in nature. No, I will not be tasting them.

Thanks for the information and encouraging articles:

Agredano, Rene. (2016, October). 6 Dangerous Desert Plants To Avoid In The Outdoors. RV Life. https://rvlife.com/dangerous-desert-plants-rvers/

(2014, October). Poisonous Plants. Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center. The University of Arizona. https://azpoison.com/poison/plants/poisonous-plants

Schalau, Jeff. (2018, August). Poisonous Landscape Plants, Backyard Gardener - Yavapai County Cooperative Extension. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. https://extension.arizona.edu/poisonous-landscape-plants