Poisonous Plant Research Lab

1150 E 1400 N

N Logan, UT 84341

(435)752-2941

    1987    PhD     Analytical Chemistry; ColoradoStateUniversity

    1983     BS     Chemistry; CedarvilleCollege

LC/MS Analysis of low larkspurs	Diterpene acids of ponderosa pine needles	Senecio madagascariensis in Hawaii	Chemotaxonomy of tall larkpurs

The identification of toxic compounds in poisonous plants and the development of analytical methods to detect and measure toxic compounds in plant and animal tissue samples.

 

          Significant Accomplishments:

         

·          Isolated and identified the abortifacient compound in ponderosa pine needles as the labdane diterpene known as isocupressic acid.

·          Develop methods of analysis for the measurement of larkspur alkaloids in plant material and animal tissue samples using infrared spectroscopy and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry methods.

·          Developed methods for the analysis of the locoweed toxin, swainsonine, for the analysis of plant material using a rapid flow injection mass spectrometry procedure.

·          Identified and characterized the pyrrolizidine alkaloids of Senecio madagascariensiswhich is a invasive and toxic weed problem on the Hawaiiislands.