This study assesses the effects of lavender and its component linalool on neurotransmission and contraction of smooth muscle. Our results demonstrate that 1,8-cineole and trans-2-hexenal decrease smooth muscle neurotransmission and contraction and thereby cause smooth muscle relaxation, thus suggesting that these chemicals may have clinical applications and health benefits.read more read lessĪbstract: Introduction: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is commonly used in household products, perfumes, aromatherapy and complementary medicines. On NTI and EJC amplitudes the effects of 1,8-cineole and 1-heptanol were reversible whereas the effects of trans-2-hexenal were irreversible. Relative to the respective controls, 1,8-cineole, 1-heptanol and trans-2-hexenal each statistically significantly decreased both smooth muscle contractile forces and EJC amplitudes, with 1-heptanol and trans-2-hexenal also statistically significantly decreasing NTI amplitudes. Likewise, noradrenaline-evoked contractile forces of rat vas deferens were examined in both the presence and the absence of each chemical. Methods: Focal extracel-lular recordings from the surface of mouse vas deferens of electrically-evoked nerve terminal impulses (NTIs) and electrically-evoked excitatory junctional currents (EJCs) were examined in both the presence and the absence of each chemical. It has been suggested anecdotally that some of these chemicals have the ability to relax smooth muscle tissues, and to test this concept, this study examines the effects of 1,8-cineole, 1-hepta-nol, α-pinene, cis-3-hexen-1-ol and trans-2-hexenal on neurotransmission and contraction of mouse and rat vas deferens. Short and long-chained based carbon chemicals derived from plants are found in many household products and are widely used in complementary medicine. In addition to the quantitative data, this paper also provides a students’ perspective into aspects that they perceive as positive or negative, or need improvement, with regards to the use of tablets for examinations.read more read less More than half of the students accessed the online feedback provided after the TabExam while none of the students requested feedback on their paper exams. While students reported that the TabExam had some advantages over paper exams, they had a neutral view on using it as a complete replacement for paper-based exams. Comparisons of student exam scores on both the TabExam and a parallel traditional paperbased exam indicated no difference, suggesting that the change in exam mode did not affect academic performance. It was completed in digital handwriting with a stylus pen and submitted online for marking and feedback. These results not only contribute to our understanding of venom evolution but also reveal anguimorph lizard venoms to be rich sources of novel bioactive molecules with potential as drug design and development lead compounds.read more read lessĪbstract: The purpose of this study was to develop a computer tablet-based examination application (TabExam) and to explore its potential to replace the traditional paper-based exams. The high level of venom chemistry variation in varanid lizards compared to that of helodermatid lizards suggests that venom may be subject to different selection pressures in these two families. Examination of other toxin types also revealed similar variability in their presence and activity levels. While kallikrein enzymes were ubiquitous, they were also a particularly multifunctional toxin type, with differential activities on enzyme substrates and also ability to degrade alpha or beta chains of fibrinogen that reflects structural variability. Venom composition was shown to be highly variable across the 20 species of Heloderma, Lanthanotus, and Varanus included in our study. In this study, we have examined the structural and functional diversification of anguimorph lizard venoms and associated toxins, and related these results to dentition and predatory ecology. Abstract: While snake venoms have been the subject of intense study, comparatively little work has been done on lizard venoms.
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