Call for Student Papers - 2001
Table of Colleges/Universities Presenting Papers - 2001
Meeting
Date - Saturday, April 21, 2001
Place - Austin Peay State University (map
site)
McCord
Building
Time - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (approximate ending time)
Subjects - Undergraduate research in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geography, geology, history of science, mathematics, medical sciences, physics, science teaching (either presenter or research advisor must hold current TAS membership)
Length - Individual talks are limited to 10 minutes
9:30-10:00 Registration - McCord Lobby
10:00-10:15 Opening Session - McCord 102
10:15-11:15 Student Presentations - 2001
11:15-11:30 Group Photo Break- McCord Lobby
11:30-12:45 Student Presentations - 2001 (con't)
12:45-1:15 Lunch - McCord Lobby
1:15-1:30 Closing Session - McCord 102
| Name | Total | Biology | Chemistry | Geology |
APSU |
2 |
1 |
1 |
- |
Lipscomb |
2 |
- |
2 |
- |
MTSU |
1 |
- |
1 |
- |
Sewanee |
1 |
- |
1 |
- |
| TSU | 11 |
10 |
1 |
- |
Vanderbilt |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
| Totals | 18 |
11 |
6 |
1 |
Investigations of Anti-Cancer Compounds From Extracts of Echinacea and St.
Johns Worts. Clifton Randell*, Wendell Fortson, E. Lewis Myles, and Deborah
Long, Cooperative Agriculture Research Program, Tennessee State University,
Nashville, TN. Many compounds found in plants have anti-bacterial,
anti-fungal, and anti-cancer activities. The herb Echinacea purpurea (purple
coneflower) produces natural compounds that may increase the efficiency of
mammalian immune systems. This investigation used extracts from the dried roots
of Echinacea. To test for anti-carcinogic activity, the breast cancer cells
(BT549) were treated with the plant extract. These cells were grown at 37oC
with 5% CO2 and exposed to either 100 micro-liters of physiological saline, 100
micro-liters of acetone, or acetone with extract. Two-dimensional gel
electrophoresis was used to analyze gene expression in the control and
experimental groups. The growth rates of cells in the control and acetone
groups were significantly higher than cell exposed to the extract. The extract
from the roots appears to inhibit growth of cancer cell line BT549. After 2 and
4 days of exposure, there was a 25% and 74% reduction in growth rates,
respectively. Ideally, a different solvent that has no effect on the cell
growth rate will better define the extract's effect. The mitotic index was not
significantly different in the groups studied. Future experiments will focus on
a different solvent and apoptosis. These results indicate that further studies
are necessary to identify anti-carcinogenic compounds in Echinacea. (Supported
by USDA/CSREES Evans-Allen Funds & MARC Grant # 5T34MO7663)
Section I