Photo by V. Miller
Feb. 1, 2006
Pine Extracts and Protozoa
A Study of Anti-Protozoan Properties of Various Pine Extracts
Katherine Smith, 14, Malabar, Fla.
Finalist, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2005
Project background: Katherine became interested in her topic after a student in her elementary school died from a disease associated with the protozoan Naegleria fowleri. She learned that the organism causes a disease called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). She also found out that people living in central Florida are at high risk for PAM because they often swim in warm lakes where the protozoan thrives. Worst of all, no known treatment exists. While walking in her neighborhood, Katherine noticed that areas under pine trees generally had little undergrowth. Could pine extracts be killing organisms on the ground? And if so, could those extracts kill protozoa?
Tactics and results: Katherine collected needles from three species of local pine trees. She prepared the extracts by grinding the needles, dissolving the pulp, and draining it. She applied each of the extracts to protozoan cultures in varying strengths. Katherine counted the number of protozoa per microscope field before and after applying the pine extracts.
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| Photo by V. Miller |
The data supported Katherine's idea: Pine extracts hinder protozoan growth.
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