Everything Nac

A plant many consider destructive may have just redeemed itself by offering promise in fighting cancer.

A team of researchers at Stephen F. Austin State University’s National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops, located within the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agricultural, has spent years researching giant salvinia, a noxious plant species known to overtake waterways and kill aquatic life.

The researchers’ work has recently led to a U.S. patent for an anti-cancer compound, Salvinol. Lab trials conducted at the NCPC verify Salvinol can slow and, in some cases, completely inhibit the growth of a wide range of cancer cells, including pancreatic and lung cancer cells.

“People often turn to tropical locations to search for medicinal compounds, but that requires a lot of money and resources,” said Dr. Shiyou Li, research professor and director of the NCPC. “Instead, we turned to a native and invasive species in our own backyard.”

During the past two decades, Li and SFA research scientists Guangrui Deng, Zushang Su, Ping Wang and Wei Yuan have isolated more than 2,000 chemical compounds from roughly 1,300 species. Many of these compounds are currently undergoing rigorous lab trials to verify their pharmacological potential.

In the quest to isolate potential anti-cancer compounds, Li and his team also made a revolutionary breakthrough in the control of invasive species. Endogenous biocide, or endocide, is a concept developed by Li that refers to the chemical compounds within a species that, when exposed, have biocidal effects on that species. Moreover, these biocidal effects are species specific, meaning surrounding unrelated species are not negatively affected.

While this concept initially focused on giant salvinia, research has shown that the endocide concept can be used to control numerous other plant and animal species, including fire ants.

“This is the most amazing thing I have seen in my career,” said Dr. Steve Bullard, SFA provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The science community is not fully aware of Dr. Li’s work yet, and that is why it is so important to protect this intellectual property through patents.”

The NCPC also is collaborating with the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to investigate how anti-inflammatory compounds in turmeric, an herbaceous perennial plant, can be used in cancer treatment.

The NCPC, formerly known as the Center for Medicinal Plant Research, was established in 2004 through U.S. congressional appropriations and has received support from former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and U.S. Congressman Louie Gohmert. Its primary mission is improving human health through the discovery of novel anti-tumor and anti-viral agents from native and invasive species.

Li said that both the offices of Hutchison and Gohmert provided invaluable support during the past 20 years, and as his research moves forward, he hopes to develop new partnerships and investors to further the center’s mission.

Visit forestry.sfasu.edu/ncpc to learn more about the NCPC.

Story by Sarah Fuller, outreach coordinator at Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture has entered into a cooperative relationship with the Jilin Provincial Academy of Forestry Sciences located in China’s Jilin Province, securing opportunities for international research collaboration, as well as advancements in forest health and sustainability.

Dr. Zhang Jianqiu, president of the Jilin Provincial Academy of Forestry Sciences, said his primary goal is to complete collaborative research that focuses on tree improvement, tree physiology, biotechnology and wildlife management.

Much of this research will be accomplished through student and professor exchanges between the two institutions.

“The agricultural and forest resources issues facing Jilin Province are very similar to our own,” said Dr. Hans Williams, dean of SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture. “Through collaboration with colleagues at the Jilin Provincial Academy of Forestry Science, we can discover mutually beneficial solutions to these challenges, as well as learn from each other through cultural exchange.”

Dr. Yuhui Weng, assistant professor of forest biometrics at SFA, facilitated the partnership.

The Jilin Provincial Academy of Forestry was established in 1956 as the province’s only multidisciplinary forest research institute and maintains four research institutes that focus on forestry, timber, natural resources and protection, forest biotechnology, and remote-sensing applications.

Story submitted by Sarah Fuller, outreach coordinator at Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

With many dining and entertainment options available in Nacogdoches, spending “Christmas with the Annie Moses Band” on Dec. 12 could evolve into a full night of festivities, food and fun for the entire family.

The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts will present “Christmas with the Annie Moses Band” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, in W.M. Turner Auditorium as part of its 2017-18 University Series. This holiday performance of the Nashville-based Annie Moses Band is sponsored in part by Nacogdoches Medical Center.

“Our audiences have responded with enthusiasm to the idea of options that allow them to design a unique night on the town, with choices of dining, enrichment and additional arts experiences in harmony with a major performance,” said Scott Shattuck, associate dean in the SFA College of Fine Arts and director of the University Series.

With that concept in mind, here are a few suggestions for a night out in Nacogdoches.

• Griffith Fine Arts Gallery, the SFA School of Art’s on-campus art gallery – conveniently located right across the hall from W.M. Turner Auditorium, site of “Christmas with the Annie Moses Band” – will be open before and after the 7:30 p.m. concert on Dec. 12.

“There you’ll find a beautiful ‘hodgepodge group show’ featuring prints, paintings, ceramics, drawings and photography by some of our most talented students of the visual arts,” Shattuck said.

• Emily Williams, senior violin student in the SFA School of Music, will offer the “Informance” about The Annie Moses Band at 7 p.m. in Griffith Gallery before the concert. In her brief, informative talk, Emily will share insights gained from her years studying and performing with the string-and-vocal band, and even teaching for their renowned Fine Arts Summer Academy.

• The Liberty Bell is offering a free holiday cocktail (21+ only) or a half-price bell-marked appetizer on Dec. 12 when you show your “Christmas with the Annie Moses Band” ticket. Drop in there before the show or head over to 422 E. Main St. after the concert: they’re open until midnight.

• Marble Slab Creamery is offering a 15-percent discount on Dec. 12 when you show them your Annie Moses Band ticket. The creamery is open until 10 p.m. at 2415 North St.

(Check with the management at these businesses about any additional restrictions on these offers.)

• As usual, the University Series will host a cookies-and-punch reception in the gallery immediately following the performance to honor our guest musicians and the concert’s exclusive corporate sponsor, Nacogdoches Medical Center. Audience members can meet the Wolaver family (who form the core of the Annie Moses Band) as well as NMC Health Network CEO Jeff Patterson and his team.

“We’re even planning a delicious little surprise treat for you when you arrive, weather permitting and ‘while quantities last,’ as they say,” Shattuck said. “Whatever options you choose, we hope you’ll make it a wonderful seasonal night out.”

Balcony and floor seats are available for “Christmas with the Annie Moses Band.” Single event ticket prices for the University Series are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for non-SFA students/youth. Tickets for SFA students are $3.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit finearts.sfasu.edu, stop by the Box Office in Room 211 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.