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