Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

Extracting Aromatic Compounds From Dehydrated Rose Buds, Lana Sheridan

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Eugenol (C10H12O2), methyl eugenol (C11H14O2), and 2-phenylethanol (C8H10O) are chemically aromatic, natural compounds commonly present in various botanical sources and essential oils. Structurally, eugenol is a methoxyphenol bearing an allyl side chain; its methyl ether derivative, methyl eugenol, shares a similar framework but features a methoxy group replacing the free phenolic hydroxyl group found in eugenol. 2-Phenylethanol is an aromatic alcohol comprised of a benzene ring linked to an ethanol moiety. The objective of this project was to isolate and characterize these compounds in dried rose buds using distillation followed by chromatographic and spectrometric analysis. For the experiment, a steam …

Steam Distillation Star Anise, Makayla Maso, Kiara Maso

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Star anise (Illicium verum) contains several volatile organic compounds responsible for its characteristic aroma, including trans-anethole, estragole, limonene, and linalool. These compounds differ in structure and chemical properties, which influence their behavior during isolation and analysis. Trans-anethole and estragole are classified as aromatic phenylpropene derivatives that contain benzene rings and ether functionalities. In contrast, limonene and linalool are non-aromatic terpenes, with linalool additionally possessing an alcohol functional group. These compounds are widely utilized as flavoring agents and fragrance components, while terpenes such as limonene and linalool are also commonly employed as solvents and in formulation chemistry due to their volatility …

Extraction Of Cedarwood Essential Oils Via Steam Distillation, Forrest Dohner

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Many natural materials, including pine and eucalyptus, produce distinct scents due to the presence of volatile organic compounds. In cedarwood, this aroma arises from a combination of aromatic molecules, which are organic compounds containing conjugated carbon ring systems that interact with olfactory receptors. Specifically, cedarwood contains three primary compounds responsible for its scent: cedrol, cedrene, and thujopene. The objective of this experiment was to extract these essential oils from cedarwood and identify their chemical composition. Steam distillation was used to isolate the volatile components by passing steam through the cedarwood, causing the essential oils to vaporize at temperatures below their …

Production And Analysis Of Lavender Essential Oil: Extraction, Composition, And Applications, Mary Zoeller

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Steam distillation was performed to extract essential oil from lavender and analyze its chemical composition. Lavender is known to contain several compounds such as linalool, terpinen-4-ol, and linalyl acetate, which contribute to its characteristic aroma and biological activity. The purpose of this experiment was to isolate these compounds without decomposition and identify them using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Approximately 14.851 g of lavender was heated with water to generate steam, which carried the volatile compounds into a condenser where the vapor was cooled and collected. The distillate was transferred to a separatory funnel to isolate the organic layer from the …

Steam Distillation Of Jasmine, Mikayla Hulvey, Meliah Martin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This experiment aimed to isolate various components, including benzyl acetate, linalool, indole, and farnesene, from jasmine buds. The functional groups include an ester in benzyl acetate, an alcohol in linalool, an amine in indole, and alkenes in farnesene. Jasmine buds were combined with distilled water and steam distilled using a standard distillation apparatus. The distillate, containing hydrosol and trace amounts of essential oil, was then collected for extraction using methyl tert-butyl (MTBE) for a liquid-liquid extraction. The organic layer was then separated, washed using brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and then transferred for later analysis. The essential oil obtained …

Pharmaceutical Industry Manufacturing Trend For Tablet Dosage Forms And Opportunities For The Future: A Case Study Of Current Practice And Future Developments, Tarang Patel

Discovery Day

INTRODUCTION: Tablet dosage forms remain the most widely utilized oral drug delivery system due to their stability, ease of administration, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. Over recent decades, advancements such as high-speed compression, improved granulation techniques, and regulatory frameworks (bioavailability, validation, and quality assurance) have significantly shaped modern pharmaceutical manufacturing. However, current systems remain largely semi-automated and resource-intensive, highlighting the need for technological transformation.

METHOD: This study presents a case-based evaluation of a contemporary pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing facility. The analysis maps the complete production workflow, including material handling, dispensing, granulation, lubrication, compression, coating, inspection, and packaging. Operational practices were reviewed alongside quality …

Brief Review: Does Red Hair Phenotype Affect Propofol Pharmacokinetics Or Pharmacodynamics?, James Espinosa, Frank Wheeler, Robin Lahr, Sergey Medlenov, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: A persistent belief within Emergency Medicine and perioperative culture suggests that individuals with red hair require altered anesthetic dosing. While early studies demonstrated increased requirements for certain volatile anesthetics in red-haired individuals, this association is frequently generalized to propofol without clear supporting evidence.

Objective: To review current literature regarding the relationship between red hair phenotype (and MC1R variants) and propofol pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD).

Methods: A focused narrative review of controlled human studies and relevant clinical outcome data evaluating propofol PK and PD in red-haired individuals.

Results: Evidence supporting altered anesthetic requirement in red-haired individuals primarily derives from …

The Complex World Of Emergency Department Medication Dosing: Weight Scalars, Dose And Area Under The Curve (Auc) In Medication Dosing--Areas For Future Research, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Weight-based dosing is foundational to emergency medicine practice. With modern ED beds capable of automatic patient weighing, inaccuracies in estimated weight have largely diminished. However, medication misalignment persists, particularly in patients at extremes of body weight and in high-stakes clinical contexts such as rapid sequence intubation (RSI), antimicrobial therapy, and anticoagulation. Emerging pharmacokinetic literature emphasizes total drug exposure—represented by the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC)—as a stronger correlate of efficacy and toxicity than single-point serum levels. This review explores where weight precision most likely matters in the ED, examines weight scalars, and reframes dosing decisions through an exposure-centered paradigm. …

The Comparative Efficacy Of Perioperative Pharmacological And Non-Pharmacological Strategies In Reducing Post-Anesthesia Cognitive Impairment Among Elderly Patients: A Literature Review, Mehnaz Islam Khan, Natalie Santos De La Torre, Christine Cherian, Shreya Shah

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Older adults (≥65 years) are at increased risk for postoperative cognitive impairment, including postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), which contribute to prolonged recovery, increased morbidity, and mortality. Preventive strategies include pharmacological interventions and non-pharmacological approaches such as cognitive training; however, these approaches are typically studied in isolation. The purpose of this literature review was to compare the effectiveness of perioperative pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in reducing postoperative cognitive impairment in elderly surgical patients. A review of six studies, including randomized controlled trials and cohort studies, was conducted in patients undergoing cardiac, spinal, and noncardiac surgeries. Cognitive outcomes, …

Behavioral Effects Of Cocaine After Activation Of Cb1 Cannabinoid Receptors In Male And Female Mice, Cade Baughman, Jejun Lee, Jessica Acheampong, Jihoon Choi, Sarah Seeley, Manoranjan Dsouza

ONU Student Research Colloquium

The goal of this study was to assess the behavioral effects of cocaine following activation of CB1 cannabinoid receptors in male and female mice. This study was undertaken because recently published data suggest sex-dependent behavioral differences after CB1 receptor activation. However, the sex-dependent effects of CB1 receptor activation on the rewarding and psychomotor effects of cocaine have not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to address this gap in knowledge. The study will use adult male and female C57BL6 mice. CB1 receptors will be activated using synthetic cannabinoid WIN 55212. Behavioral effects assessed after CB1 receptor activation will include both …

A Single Administration Of Psilocybin Is Ineffective In Reversing Ptsd-Like Sequelae In A Rat Model Of Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning, Kylie M. King, Marisa J. Savini, Noelle M. Molnar, Evelynn J. Schneider, Savannah E. Straub, Joe Parker, Lillianna P. Puppel, Aleece K. Al-Olimat, Allison M. Bach, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Single treatments with psychedelics produce rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. Psychedelics may also exert anxiolytic effects and be useful in treating more complex psychiatric conditions, such as PTSD. However, less is known about the impact of these agents on PTSD-related symptoms. Thus, we aimed to determine whether a single administration of psilocybin could reverse PTSD-like sequelae induced by stress-enhanced fear learning in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in Context A (circular, white conditioning box) and exposed to several uncontrollable footshocks (Stress) or no footshocks (No Stress). The next day, the rats were placed in Context B (square conditioning box with clear …

Psilocybin And The Related Tryptamine, Norbaeocystin, Exert Acute Anxiogenic Effects That Depend On Sex, Marisa J. Savini, Kylie M. King, Noelle M. Molnar, Evelynn J. Schneider, Savannah E. Straub, Joe Parker, Lillianna P. Puppel, Aleece K. Al-Olimat, Allison M. Bach, Andrew Jones, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Single treatments with psychedelics have demonstrated rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. However, psychedelics often produce unfavorable psychoactive effects that could worsen existing psychological distress. Thus, we compared the effects of psilocybin and the related tryptamine, norbaeocystin, on anxiety-like behavior in male and female rats. In Experiment 1, rats were treated with 1 mg/kg psilocybin (PSIL), 1 mg/kg norbaeocystin (NOR), or vehicle 30 min before a 5-min trial on an elevated plus maze (EPM) or in an open field test (OFT). On the EPM, PSIL led to decreased open arm time and fewer arm entries in males and females. NOR led to …

How To Best Utilize Outcomesmtm In Patient Care Settings, Anna Spalvieri

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Pharmacies are essential for the reception and filling of prescriptions, but they can also be vital for the monitoring and managing of different patient conditions and medication regimens. Patients, especially those who are older or live with chronic conditions, can be prescribed many different medications and therapies. Inversely, they might not have the medications and therapies needed to address their conditions. ONU Healthwise Pharmacy and the pharmacy call center utilize a platform called OutcomesMTM as a way of providing Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services to help patients control their chronic conditions and manage their health. These services, delivered through phone …

Improving Anesthesia Provider Confidence In The Identification, Management, And Treatment Of Postoperative Delirium, Brittany M. Whistle, Charles Dustin Phelps

Scholars Week

Purpose: Postoperative Delirium (POD) is a potentially devastating complication of anesthesia that is poorly understood by clinical staff leading to poor outcomes for surgical patients. This study is meant to determine if a focused knowledge presentation accompanied by visual aids could increase anesthesia providers confidence in identifying, diagnosing, and treating Postoperative Delirium.

Methodology: Utilizing a statistical model to analyze respondents results on a standardized test administered before and after an informational presentation with visual aids on the topic of Postoperative Delirium.

Results: Results indicated a statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest scores, with a p-value of .002, t(11) = …

The Standardization Of Protocols For Lines And Drips In Complex Cases, Allee A. Rudolph

Scholars Week

Medication errors occur far too often, yet many can be prevented through simple measures such as intravenous line labeling. Clear, highly visible labels enable quick identification reducing the response time in critical situations. The incorporation of color-coding and icons can only enhance the ability to distinguish between the lines with confidence.

Optimization Of A Kcc2 Small Molecule Agonist And The Development Of An In-Silico Model Of Intermolecular Dynamics For The Rational Design Of Therapeutics Against Opioid Use Disorder, William H.D. Ho, Alfred Amendolara, Kenyon Mitchell, Jaden Miner, Braxton Bingham, Andrew Payne

Annual Research Symposium

Roseman University Research Symposium

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 3:00 – 6:00 pm (local time)

Neonatal Sepsis: Empiric Treatment And Monitoring Of Gentamicin Troughs In The Nicu, Aleese Palfreyman

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Cytotoxic And Antimicrobial Effects Of Plant-Derived Compounds Used In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Amanda Ly, Diane Sun, Shelbi Salinas, Victor M. Jimenez

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Antihistamines On Drowsiness, Symptom Relief, And Restless Leg Syndrome, Suki Kaur

Posters-at-the-Capitol

“Antihistamine” categorizes a large selection of drugs, all with different side effects and user experiences. This study explores the relationships between allergy medicine usage, side effects, symptom relief, and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) using data collected from 113 participants of an anonymous online survey. Five hypotheses were tested using chi-square analyses of independence at a significance level of 0.05. The data revealed a strong statistical association between first-generation antihistamine (Benadryl) use and drowsiness, misuse of allergy medicine and RLS, drowsiness and RLS, and duration of use and routine disruption. The data did not find a statistically significant relationship between relief …

Exploring Therapeutic Frontiers: The Beep Regimen In Breast And Brain Metastases, Destiny Carroll

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Examining The Influence Of Mapped Bloom's Taxonomy Items On The Student Pharmacist Experience, Annaston Young

Student Scholar Symposium

Objective: To evaluate the impact of transparent Bloom’s Taxonomy (BT) item mapping on the student experience.

Methods: First-year student pharmacists were oriented to BT twice during their first semester. Using a quasi-experimental research design, a point-of-care testing (POCT) active learning exercise and related low-stakes assessment were identified for the intervention. Following the active learning, a five-question “exit ticket” on Google Forms was randomly distributed based on QR codes: Group 1 (n=20) had no BT item mapping and Group 2 (n=20) had BT labels for each item. Performance, confidence, and experience evaluation were captured on each exit ticket. Descriptive statistics were …

Quantum Rings Simulations Of Cisplatin, Clinton Hutchins, Laci Walmer

Student Scholar Symposium

Cisplatin is a major chemotherapy drug that relies on a platinum-based core to deliver the properties necessary to combat cancer. This platinum-based core creates an undesired toxicity that poses challenges during treatment. The aim of this research is to employ quantum simulations to explore the stability of biochemicals such as cisplatin and predict their binding affinities for targets of interest. Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) simulations are used to explore if the substitution of a core like Au or Pd are possible to retain anticancer efficacy but reduce its toxicity. With the use of these quantum simulations, we can run different …

Spilling The Tea: Effects Of Uv Disinfection On Bioactive Compounds In South African Rooibos Tea, Sora Ghanem, Leah Ankiah, Yusra Ahmed

Student Scholar Symposium

This study investigated the effects of ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection on key bioactive flavonoid compounds in rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis). There is an interest in non-thermal food preservation technologies, and UV treatment offers potential advantages for beverage processing. However, concerns exist regarding possible degradation of health-promoting compounds during treatment. Rooibos tea samples were subjected to five UV exposure intensities (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mJ/cm²), and concentrations of four major flavonoids (aspalathin, orientin, vitexin, and rutin) were measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Surprisingly, most flavonoids showed stability or slight concentration increases at higher UV doses. Aspalathin concentrations …

Developing Nlp-Based Open-Source Tools To Improve Titratable Infusion Order Interpretation In Ehr Systems, Benjamin Brewer, Jay Dorris

Student Scholar Symposium

This study evaluates the feasibility of using natural language processing (NLP) tools to identify errors in titratable infusion orders for Joint Commission readiness. Titratable infusions are adjusted at the bedside by nurses based on predefined parameters, such as monitoring goals, titration rate, conditions for adjustment, and maximum dose. These parameters are often documented as free text within order sets but can be inadvertently removed during the verification process. Some electronic health records (EHRs) may not prominently display this critical information, leading to potential Joint Commission violations. A synthetic dataset was generated using artificial intelligence to simulate one year’s worth of …

Investigation Of Aldehyde Oxidase Inhibition By Clopidogrel And Its Thiol Metabolite, Rachel Crouch, Merna Kamal, Hilina Woldeamanuel

Student Scholar Symposium

Aldehyde oxidase (AO) is an enzyme that metabolizes drugs containing aromatic azaheterocycles. Small thiol-containing molecules have been reported to inactivate AO. Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet agent used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Clopidogrel is a prodrug that is bioactivated in vivo by cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 into a thiol metabolite. Our research aims to explore whether the clopidogrel thiol metabolite can inhibit AO, leading to potential drug-drug interactions when co-administered with other drugs that are metabolized by AO. In order to determine whether the prodrug clopidogrel and/or its thiol metabolite inhibit AO, O6-benzylguanine (AO substrate) was incubated with human …

Have You Had Your Vitamins Today? An Lc-Ms/Ms Method To Simultaneously Measure B Vitamins In Plasma From Study Participants In A “Greens” Nutritional Supplement Clinical Trial., Katelyn Covington, Joanna Cravens, Matthew Vergne, Scott Akers

Student Scholar Symposium

Objectives: This study assessed the absorption of key vitamins and other nutrients from amulti- ingredient “greens” nutritional supplement using a newly developed LC-MS/MS method capable of analyzing B vitamins in a single run.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with a number of healthy participants to measure plasma nutrient appearance over 8 hours after supplement consumption. Participants consumed either the nutritional supplement (13g) or placebo after a 10-hour fast, with treatments separated by a one-week. Serial blood samples were collected pre-consumption and at specified intervals post-ingestion. Our novel LC-MS/MS method simultaneously quantified biotin, nicotinamide, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and …

Impact Of An Educational Intervention On Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, And Confidence Regarding Alcohol And Substance Use Disorders, Lina Itenberg

Student Scholar Symposium

This study examines the impact of an educational intervention on student pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and confidence regarding alcohol and substance use disorders (AUD/SUD) at Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy. Current literature denotes that student pharmacists often feel unprepared to address substance use disorder in practice. This study evaluates whether a targeted educational intervention can enhance student understanding of first-line pharmacological treatments, increase confidence in handling opioid-related emergencies, and improve their ability to educate patients on harm reduction strategies, including naloxone use and opioid overdose risks. Pre- and post-intervention surveys will assess changes in students’ preparedness and identify ongoing concerns about …

Evolutionary Pathways Of Drug Resistance To Long-Acting Prep In Initial Hiv Infection, Yeona Kang, Katharine Gurski, Yanping Ma

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

International Conference On Pharmaceutical And Natural Sciences, University For Business And Technology (Ubt) In Kosovo

UBT International Conference

UBT Annual International Conference is the 14th international interdisciplinary peer reviewed conference which publishes works of the scientists as well as practitioners in the area where UBT is active in Education, Research and Development. The UBT aims to implement an integrated strategy to establish itself as an internationally competitive, research-intensive university, committed to the transfer of knowledge and the provision of a world-class education to the most talented students from all background. The main perspective of the conference is to connect the scientists and practitioners from different disciplines in the same place and make them be aware of the recent …

Implementing A Specific And Standardized Grading Scale For Therapeutic Injection Site Reactions To Improve Adverse Event Reporting, Priya Kale, Kavita Sarin

Research Colloquium

Up to 15.5% of patients taking biologic medication experience injection site reactions (ISRs) leading to morbidity, early discontinuation, and reduced treatment compliance. As biologic medications are increasingly used to treat chronic inflammatory conditions, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, there needs to be an improved understanding of ISRs. However, current methods of grading ISRs are nonspecific and unstandardized leading to a lack of understanding of medication-specific ISRs and ambiguity in perceptions of treatment tolerability. Here we aim to develop a standardized ISR grading scale for use in clinical trials. A scoping review was performed to evaluate current ISR grading scales and …