Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

Preliminary Evaluation Of Bahamian Botanicals For Tropical Applications, Michelle Antoinette Outten

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

This thesis explores the phytochemical composition and cosmetic potential of three Bahamian botanicals- Mosiera longipes (MLE), Tabebuia bahamensis (TBE), and Momordica charantia (MCE)---traditionally used in local bush medicine. Methanolic and aqueous extracts were prepared and incorporated into topical cream formulations. While HPLC-DAD analysis was performed, no compounds were definitively identified due to hardware limitations; chromatographic data remain preliminary, providing a foundation for future validation. Formulations were assessed for stability under centrifugation, thermal cycling, and long-term storage. All samples demonstrated acceptable initial pH values within the skin-compatible range (4.5-5.5): BWE (5.63 ± 0.04), TBE (5.47 ± 0.02), MLE (5.72 ± 0.04), …

Residual Next-Day Effects Of Alprazolam On Psychomotor Performance And Simulated Driving In Healthy Normal Adults, Stevie C. Roszkowski, Shanna Babalonis, Marion A. Coe, Paul Nuzzo, Michelle R. Lofwall, Laura C. Fanucchi, Sharon L. Walsh

Center on Drug and Alcohol Research Faculty Publications

The prevalence of drugged driving has increased in the United States. Some drugged driving may be unintentional as prescription medications used as sleeping aids, like zolpidem, cause impairment after the predicted duration of therapeutic action has elapsed. The aim of this study was to determine if nighttime administration of alprazolam, a drug commonly prescribed off-label as a sleeping aid, impacts driving performance the following day. Participants were healthy adults (n = 15) who completed a double-blind, double-dummy, within-subjects inpatient study examining the effects of nighttime administration of alprazolam (0.5, 1, and 2 mg), zolpidem (10 mg), and placebo on driving …

Adolescents’ And Parents’ Perspectives On Using The Medsmarxt Families Intervention In Emergency Departments For Opioid Medication Safety Education: Mixed Methods Study, Olufunmilola Abraham, Sara Nadi, Irene Hurst

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Background: The opioid crisis has significantly impacted adolescents and their families. This is attributed in part to increased opioid prescriptions in pediatric emergency departments (EDs) due to acute pain conditions and injuries. Although EDs frequently prescribe opioids, no effective preventative interventions have been implemented to educate adolescents and their families on safe opioid use. This study evaluates the MedSMA℞T Families intervention, which consists of an engaging serious game, Adventures in PharmaCity, and a personalized Family Medication Safety Plan (FMSP) with the aim of reducing opioid misuse and promoting opioid medication safety. The MedSMA℞T Families intervention was developed to educate adolescents …

Barriers To And Facilitators Of Buprenorphine Dispensing For Opioid Use Disorder: Evidence From Focus Groups In Appalachian Kentucky, Douglas R. Oyler, Dustin K. Miracle, Hannah Hesener, Laura Stinson, Monica Roberts, Adrienne Matson, Patricia R. Freeman

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Background: As efforts to increase buprenorphine prescribing continue to intensify, pharmacy dispensing plays an important role in access to essential medications for opioid use disorder. Existing survey research suggests stigma and regulatory concerns are barriers to pharmacists dispensing buprenorphine, but facilitators are less clear, as are in-depth perceptions of pharmacists regarding buprenorphine.

Objective: To assess barriers and facilitators to buprenorphine dispensing in Appalachian Kentucky using a series of focus groups with pharmacy employees.

Methods: Between September and October 2023, 5 structured focus groups were conducted with a total of 19 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across a mixture of high- and …

Understanding The Impact Of Pharmacist Prescriptive Authority On Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis At The State Level, Cameron G. King

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

HIV transmission, with relative risk reductions of up to 99%. However, real world data have revealed that even with large increases in PrEP use, new HIV diagnoses may only slightly decline. This disparity suggests that access to PrEP may be suboptimal, especially among high-risk subgroups, who are often hard to maintain on the continuum of HIV care. Pharmacists, because of their accessibility, trusted role in their communities, and growing scope of practice, could serve as an intervention point to improve access to PrEP.

A previously validated algorithm using National Drug Codes (NDCs) and the International Classification of Disease, 10^{th …}

Integrating Phytochemicals And In Silico Methods For Modern Drug Discovery: A Comprehensive Review, Olorunfemi Oyewole Babalola, Kpomah Bridget, Godspower Oyubu, Sakariyau Adio Waheed, Samuel Ayomikun Ajiboye, Aderonke Elizabeth Fakayode, Adeleye Adegboyega Edema, Udensi Great Chukwuma, Rachael Taiwo Tiamiyu, Adebisola Joy Fakayode, Hameedah Oluwatoyin Adebimpe, Kosisochukwu Dematus Onyeagba, Comfort Oluseun Fakunle, Paul Olamide Ottu, Sonia Gabriel

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Phytochemicals have long played a central role in drug discovery due to their structural diversity and broad biological activity. This review explores the progression of natural product-based drug development, highlighting how traditional knowledge and modern scientific tools are increasingly being combined. Medicinal plants identified through ethnopharmacological practices continue to guide the search for bioactive compounds, while advancements in screening techniques and structural analysis have improved the isolation and characterization of these substances. The review discusses the wide range of pharmacological actions found in plant-derived compounds. Their mechanisms of action and potential for synergistic effects are examined in detail. The application …

Antihypertensive Potential Of Euphorbia Hirta And Leptadenia Hastata In Adrenaline-Induced Wistar Rats, Fagbohun Oyenike Bushirat, Emmanuel Ogar Ochonung, Messiah Innocent Atapia, Hassan Abdulsalam Adewuyi, Sakariyau Aido Waheed, Adebimpe Oluwatoyin Hameedah, Chizoba Victory Obunadike, Adeleye Adegboyega Edema, Samad Hussein, Abiola Mohammed Usman, Tolulope Olukayode Jaiyeola

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Background: Hypertension is a major public health concern worldwide, contributing to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The use of plant-based therapies, such as Euphorbia hirta and Leptadenia hastata, has gained attention for their potential antioxidant, anti-hyperlipidemic, and organ-protective effects.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the phytotherapeutic approach to hypertension using E. hirta and L. hastata extracts in adrenaline-induced hypertensive Wistar rats

Methods: Utilizing an adrenaline-induced hypertensive rat model, we assessed the effects of E. hirta and L. hastata leaf extracts (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) on systolic blood pressure, renal function, lipid metabolism, and hematological parameters.

Results: Antioxidant activity: …

Lap-Hsp60 Complex Modulates Epithelial Tight Junction Barrier, Arun Bhunia, Manalee Manalee Samaddar, Chen Sun, Nicholas Gallina, Nicole Irizarry-Tardi, Donqi Liu, Shivendra Tenguria, Rishi Drolia, Anika Jain, Daisuke Kihara, Wen Jiang, Kee-Hong Kim, Abigail Cox, Kurt Ristroph, Gregory Knipp, Nicholas Noinaj

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

During infection, Listeria adhesion protein (LAP), a housekeeping enzyme, acts as a tight junction modulator (TJM) through interaction with Hsp60 to facilitate Listeria monocytogenes translocation across the intestinal epithelial barrier. Here, we used purified LAP as a potential TJM to overcome the limiting and variable effects observed by other agents in the class. We structurally determined the LAP interaction alone and in complex with Hsp60 utilizing cryo-EM and computational analysis. LAP structure resolved at 2.83 Å, forms multimeric interlocking dimers and tetramers, and the N-domain interacts with Hsp60, while the C-domain bridges the bacterial surface receptor InlB. The structural studies …

Rwanda's Natural Remedies: A Fresh Look At The Fight Against Malaria, Leandre Nsabimana Ndisanze

Pomona Senior Theses

Malaria remains one of the most devastating parasitic diseases globally, disproportionately affecting sub-Saharan Africa, where Rwanda continues to face high transmission rates and rising resistance to conventional interventions. Despite decades of control efforts, the emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum and insecticide-resistant Anopheles mosquitoes threatens to reverse recent gains. This research responds to the urgent need for sustainable and culturally relevant alternatives by exploring the therapeutic potential of Rwandan traditional medicinal plants. These indigenous remedies, long used by local healers, offer an underexplored reservoir of bioactive compounds that may provide the basis for novel antimalarial drugs.

The central hypothesis of this …

Amorphous Quininium Aspirinate From Neat Mechanochemistry: Diffracting Nanocrystalline Domains And Quick Recrystallization Upon Exposure To Solvent Vapours, Silvina Pagola, James Howard, Johannes Merkelbach, Danny Stam

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Quininium aspirinate is mechanochemically prepared as a crystalline solid by liquid-assisted grinding, or as an amorphous phase (as determined by X-ray powder diffraction), by neat grinding or neat ball milling. Our previous work demonstrated using FT-IR spectroscopy that a mechanochemical reaction had occurred in the mechanically treated neat mixtures. Herein is reported that microcrystal electron diffraction (microED) afforded the discovery of two diffracting micron-size particles in the amorphous powder synthesized by manual grinding, among a majority of non-diffracting particles. Remarkably, microED data of one of them led to the known lattice parameters of quininium aspirinate. Furthermore, this so-called 'X-ray amorphous' …

Protocol For Screening Of Small Molecules In A Cln3 Disease Patient-Specific Ipsc-Derived Neuronal Progenitor Cell Model, Ramu Venkatesan, Paul C. Trippier

Journal Articles: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Although rare, CLN3 disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder of childhood. Here, we present a protocol for screening small molecules in a CLN3 disease patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal progenitor cell (NPC) model. We describe steps for converting human iPSCs (hiPSCs) to neural stem cells (NSCs) and developing NPCs using feeder-free medium and cytokine-based differentiation. We then detail procedures for achieving access to mature neurons. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Simeon et al.

Laser-Induced Graphene Sensor For The Electrochemical Detection Of Acetaminophen, Abdellatif Ait Lahcen, Mazhar Sher, Sikander Ameer, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Here we present a simple and efficient method for fabricating laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes for the electrochemical detection of acetaminophen (AAP), a crucial analgesic and antipyretic that can become toxic at elevated concentrations. Unlike conventional sensors that require intricate chemical modifications, the fabricated LIG-based sensor eliminates the need for functionalization, offering a streamlined sensing solution. The LIG electrodes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, which confirmed the formation of a highly porous graphene network with excellent purity and conductivity. Cyclic voltammetry analysis with a ferricyanide redox probe revealed a large electroactive surface area of 1.21 …

Using Hyperactive Shp-2 Mutants, A Phosphatase, To Identify Interactions With The Rna Helicase Ddx3, Devin Montgomery

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Protein-protein interactions are critical in cellular signaling pathways. This project investigates binding interactions between SHP-2, a tyrosine phosphatase, and DDX3, an RNA helicase. There is a specific focus on the impact that gain-of-function SHP-2 mutations may impact binding to DDX3 via conformational change. Using immunoprecipitation protocols as well as western blotting we were able to provide insights into SHP-2 molecular mechanisms and subsequent binding to DDX3.

Anxiolytic Intervention: Modulation Of Cell Types Due To Nicotine Withdrawal, Taylor Elder

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Nicotine use disorder (NUD) remains a leading cause of preventable disease, yet the neurobiological mechanisms underlying nicotine withdrawal are incompletely understood. Emerging evidence implicates neuroimmune signaling and astrocytic regulation of glutamate in shaping the withdrawal-associated affective phenotype. This dissertation investigated these processes using multiple nicotine administration paradigms including osmotic minipump implant, cigarette smoke exposure, and nicotine vapor inhalation to model diverse routes of human nicotine intake.

Chapter 2 examines the effects of these three modes of administration on neuroinflammation and validation of nicotine delivery. Nicotine exposure was confirmed through receptor [³H]Epibatidine nAChR binding assay and serum cotinine measurements. …

Investigating The Role Of Dynamic Signaling Of Nrg3-Erbb4 In The Prefrontal Cortex In Mediating Nicotine Withdrawal Phenotypes, Emily Prantzalos

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

While several pharmacotherapies are currently available for nicotine use disorder (NUD), smoking cessation success rates remain below 10% each year. The molecular mechanisms underlying failed quit attempts continue to represent a critical gap in our knowledge. However, recent advances in understanding the genetic contributions to nicotine dependence offer a promising avenue for developing more effective cessation therapies. Prior research has identified genetic variation in Neuregulin 3 (Nrg3) and its cognate receptor ErbB4 as potential contributors to affective nicotine withdrawal (WD) phenotypes and cessation outcomes. Therefore, this dissertation aims to systematically investigate the region-specific, functional role of the Neuregulin Signaling Pathway …

Leveraging Transcriptomics And Behavior To Investigate Potential Neuronal And Glial Drivers Of Substance Use Disorder Endophenotypes, Jack V. Keady

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Over 54 million Americans needed substance use treatment in 2023. While there are many facets of substance use disorder, two major issues of interest are the negative reinforcing aspects of substances of abuse, manifesting in part as withdrawal symptomologies, and why a subset of people who use substances of abuse escalate to a use disorder. Nicotine exposure models were used to investigate the mechanisms of withdrawal endophenotypes, as smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and a fentanyl self-administration model was used to probe individual differences in escalation phenotypes, as 80% of overdose deaths in …

The Impact Of Maternal Environmental Exposures On The Immune Landscape Of The Maternal-Fetal Interface, Heather E. True

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Maternal environmental exposures and inflammation are known to impact fetal development in utero as well as increase the risk for chronic diseases later in life. Therefore, it is essential that we understand how the maternal environment alters placental structure and immune function.

Therefore, we isolated fetal (chorionic villous) tissues from the placentas of healthy pregnant participants (control) and those with inflammatory conditions, including SARS-COV-2 infection, pregravid obesity, and opioid use disorder. Isolated placental leukocytes were subjected to a series of assays to uncover the phenotypic, functional, and transcriptional (single-cell RNA-sequencing) landscape of placental immune cells. Additional placental tissues were subjected …

Sharksrx Newsletter Winter 2025, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Sharks Rx

No abstract provided.

Investigating Antimicrobial Efficacy Of Turmeric And Rosemary Oil Against Staphylococcus Aureus, Aishwarya Tripathi

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

This study investigates the antimicrobial efficacy of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis) against Streptococcus aureus, with a comparative analysis to phenoxyethanol, a widely used synthetic preservative. The growing consumer demand for natural cosmetic formulations have intensified the search for plant-derived alternatives to synthetic preservatives. Turmeric and rosemary oil were selected based on their documented antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this research was to evaluate whether these natural agents can serve as effective preservatives in topical gel formulations, either individually or in combination, and how their efficacy compares to phenoxyethanol.

Eight gel-based formulations were …

Pharmaceutical-Telehealth Confederacies, Michael S. Sinha

All Faculty Scholarship

Access to prescription pharmaceuticals has historically been controlled by a physician’s pen. As a result, pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars on advertising and promotion to mitigate this barrier: first and primarily, to physicians and other prescribers, and more recently, to the general public through direct-to-consumer advertising. The success of these promotional efforts can be seen in greater prescribing of costly brand-name medicines, even in settings where lower-priced generic alternatives exist. Brand-name prescriptions now make up only 10% of all prescriptions written yet account for 87% of drug spending. Despite these substantial returns on investment, companies continue to seek opportunities …