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Dietary Bioactive Components Research
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KIRSTIE CANENE-ADAMS investigates the combination of tomatoes and broccoli in reducing prostate tumor growth. (2006) Epidemiological studies suggest that fruit and vegetable intake is associated with a reduced risk of a variety of diseases, including cancer. Dr. John Erdman's laboratory is particularly interested in the potential effect of how whole tomatoes, and specifically the tomato carotenoids lycopene, phytoene and phytofluene, alter prostate cancer growth. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in males and may exist for decades before its detection. Thus, men can unknowingly have cancer for many years, and the cancer will have unsuspectingly progressed to a more serious condition. “If we can find a way to utilize diet to reduce the growth rate when men are still young, we can lower the necessity for medical and surgical treatment”, said researcher John Erdman. “Epidemiological studies strongly suggest that higher rates of consumption of tomato products and broccoli are associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer, especially the slow growing cancer that affects men over 65 years of age”, said Erdman. Lycopene is the red pigment in tomatoes and is often touted as the reason for reduced prostate cancer risk. The question is – will lycopene itself reduce cancer growth or are there additional phytochemicals in the tomato that are essential? Moreover, will the combination of tomato and broccoli provide additive benefits? |
Kirstie Canene-Adams with Dr. John Erdman, Jr. |
| To find the answer, Erdman's graduate student, Kirstie Canene-Adams, conducted a long-term study in rats with existing prostate tumors. Diets containing lycopene, tomato, broccoli or combination of tomato with broccoli were evaluated. “Consistent with previous studies in our laboratory, the lycopene diet had some effect, but the whole tomato did much better. The rats that were fed broccoli or tomato diets showed slowing of tumor growth, but what was really exciting was that the rats fed a diet of broccoli with tomato showed a greater than 50 percent reduction in cancer growth”, said Canene-Adams. These results suggest that whole foods have stronger chemotherapeutic actions than an individual compound within a food, and that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables will increase these anti-cancer benefits. What attracted Canene-Adams to the Division of Nutritional Sciences and Professor Erdman's laboratory was the relevance of the research to human health and the fact that the experiments focused on treating cancer with whole foods rather than supplements. “I also really enjoy the collaboration between Dr. Erdman's lab, which studies tomatoes, and Dr. Elizabeth Jeffery's lab, whose laboratory focuses on broccoli. By bringing these two labs together we were able to find a very potent dietary inhibitor of prostate cancer growth”, said Canene-Adams. |
TRISTAN KRAFT combines a background in plant science with training in nutrition and medicine to identify compounds in berries that reduce complications of diabetes. (2006) “I came to the U of I to get a M.S. in plant science with Dr. Mary Ann Lila, but after receiving my master's degree, I felt like I had started something but hadn't finished it. So I switched into the Division of Nutritional Sciences to work on a Ph.D. under the continued advisement of Dr. Lila. The following year, I was accepted into the College of Medicine as part of the Medical Scholars Program; my research and classes will allow me to study the potential role of plants for promoting human health.” The Lila laboratory is particularly interested in bioactive components of plants, especially flavonoids in berries, which protect against cancer, reduce complications associated with diabetes and promote endurance and stamina. There is a complex array of interacting natural phytochemicals in berries that, when consumed, work together with enhanced biological activity to promote health. Her research group has developed unique suspension cell culture systems derived from plant germplasm to produce the flavonoids under controlled environments in the laboratory, as well as gentle, effective methods for extracting bioactive compounds from plants. |
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Tristan Kraft with Dr. Mary Ann Lila |
| Kraft's research concentrates on the interplay between two of these compounds – flavonoids and terpenoids. He studies how they work in concert to reduce diabetic microvascular disease or complications affecting small blood vessels such as those supplying the eyes, nerves and kidneys. “Diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputation, and, as a future physician, I believe it is critical to develop novel and effective treatments. One aspect of my research focuses on the phytochemicals present in wild berries that were used in the daily subsistence diet of Native Americans, such as buffaloberries and juneberries from North Dakota or the maqui berries from Chile. We believe that these berries have novel mixtures of components that are particularly potent for human health protection. These investigations will help identify the precise bioactive components from berries and their mechanisms of action. Currently, I am studying how components from berries affect three different diabetes-related enzyme pathways. I hope that my data will eventually allow nutritionists to develop guidelines for a recommended daily intake of berries and identify specific berries for clinical intervention trials. One of the things about the Division that I've been most impressed with is the caliber of the faculty. They are active and successful, and if I need help in another part of the campus, there's always a faculty member in the Division who I can go to for help.” |
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AMANDA BERGSCHNEIDER-NEWELL compares varieties of herbal teas to determine the most effective at killing human liver cancer cells. (2006) Dr. Elvira de Mejia's laboratory studies food components with health benefits with a focus on identifying, isolating and characterizing bioactive compounds in foods which may prevent chronic diseases, particularly cancer. Earlier studies in Dr. de Mejia's lab have confirmed Mexican folk medicine showing that an herbal tea from a plant called Ardisia inhibits the growth of liver cancer in rats exposed to liver carcinogens. This research is important because liver cancer is highly prevalent in many areas of the world and the five-year survival of patients with liver cancer is only 6 percent. Thus, prevention is key. |
Amanda Bergschneider-Newell with Dr. Elvira de Mejia |
As part of her M.S. research, Amanda Bergschneider-Newell has shown that teas made from six different Ardisia species inhibit the growth of liver cancer cells. Her research results suggest that this is due to the unique mixture of flavanoids in the tea, known as polyphenols that act synergistically against liver cancer. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, Amanda determined the polyphenol content and composition of the teas and tested their potency in a variety of human cell culture assays. Bergschneider-Newell stated that, “Prior to beginning my research, I'd never done anything with plants before, but with this study, I've grown plants from seeds in the greenhouse. By growing them from seeds I can ensure that they have received the same amount of water, sunlight, etc., so that the only variable is their genetic makeup. I have had the opportunity to present our findings at three national scientific meetings. Additionally, I was able to collaborate with a professor at the U of I Chicago campus where I learned immunology techniques to test the interaction between proteins—if certain proteins stay together by forming complexes with polyphenols from tea, they can stop the growth of the cancer cells.” “This program has made me feel well-rounded—I've been exposed to so many areas. Although my background was in dietetics, I've discovered that I really like the technical and basic science aspects of research—as well as wanting to be involved in something that has a direct human health implication.” |
CHRIS WHARTON gains satisfaction from seeing a research project through from start to finish. (2002) "In addition to nutrients, fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals are associated with reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. In particular, epidemiological evidence has linked tomato and broccoli intake with a decreased incidence of prostate cancer. To determine how these vegetables affect the growth of chemically induced prostate cancer, I have initialed a long-term feeding trial in which rats are fed tomato, broccoli, or both. My advisors are Professors John Erdman, and Elizabeth Jeffery. Erdman is an expert in carotenoid metabolism, whereas Jeffery, |
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| a nutritional toxicologist, studies hew broccoli affects | Chris Wharton with Dr. Elizabeth Jeffery and Dr. John Erdman, Jr. |
enzymes that protect us from toxic chemicals and carcinogens. Being able to work wish professors whose expertise and reputation are far-reaching has been both exciting and a strong learning experience. I have had the opportunity to contribute in every aspect of this project, from its initial planning and grant writing through its implementation, execution, and interpretation of results. This type of total involvement is rare. I have found that gathering input from professors in a number of different but related fields has provided me with a broader understanding of my research. It has been my pleasure to work in such an interdisciplinary and stimulating environment.” |
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