Visionary Seminar Series
The Visionary Seminar Series aims to explore the vision of a variety of experts on the future of education and research in the scientific areas encompassed by the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture and is sponsored by the COLSA Entrepreneurial Faculty Development Fund.
Optimizing Echinacea as a Dietary Supplement
Dr. Diane Birt; Distinguished Professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and the Director of Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements, Iowa State University
Thursday, March 6th 12:40 - 2:00 PM in Kingsbury Hall N101
The Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements, developed in response to a request for proposals from the National Institutes of Health is a multidisciplinary center that researches the genetic, developmental, and biochemical diversity of Echinacea and Hypericum species in order to advance the understanding of the main constituents that contribute to their bioactivity. The primary objectives are to identify and mechanistically characterize the anti-viral activities found in Echinacea, Hypericum and Prunella species; understand the balance between the anti- and pro-inflammatory activities of supplements derived from this genera; investigate relationships between bioactive Echinacea and Hypericum constituents; and assess effects of Echinacea and Hypericum on the TRPV1 ion channel. The goal of these objectives is to improve understanding of the factors that contribute to health benefits, and to optimize these supplements for study in future clinical trials.
This work is conducted by an interdisciplinary team of chemists, agronomists, botanists, immunologists, virologists, nutritionists, food scientists and statisticians at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. Professor Birt will discuss her efforts in establishing, coordinating and educating graduate students in this inter/multidisciplinary environment.
Seminars are free and open to the public. No reservations required.
