The Botanical Core will continue to function as it has during the initial funding cycle by facilitating the work of all Research Projects, the Integrative Biology Core (IBC) and the Pilot Research and Training Programs. The Botanical Core uses state-of-the-art phytochemical discovery, characterization, standardization and production approaches and modern equipment and greenhouse facilities to perform its mission. The Botanical Core is located and led from Rutgers University and actively participates in supporting the activities of all research projects, IBC and the pilot studies.
Specific Aims
- To support the activities of each research project, the IBC and the pilot studies. Specific services include: greenhouse-based cultivation of source plants and optimized production of bioactives, production of botanicals for the Center’s research, pre-clinical, clinical and pilot studies, activity-guided isolation of bioactives and characterization of their interactions, analytical and structural chemistry support for the research activities, quality control and botanical authentication when necessary, determination of bioavailability of identified active compounds. The botanical core also provides biochemical tools including analytical support using LC-MS, GC-MS, HPLC, separation of bioactives using preparatory HPLC, FCPC and solvent partitioning, bioaccessibility determinations using TIM. The core also provides support through methods including: cultivation techniques currently developed, specific separation protocols for each bioactive under investigation, standardization/quality control using biochemical analysis and bioactivity, and bioaccessibility measurements for compounds, release-from-diet matrix and formulation evaluations.
- To assist in designing and conducting pilot studies and in educating and training new investigators for biobotanical research. Specifically, the core provides specific recommendations and/or evaluations of the quality and sourcing of botanical materials to be used for proposed pilot studies and provides all necessary training to investigators and T32 fellows requiring specific skills for the evaluation and use of botanical preparations for in vitro and in vivo models related to metabolic syndrome
- To conduct original research. The core conducts research with the objective of improving materials, methods and instruments for ongoing projects, creating enabling approaches in the advance of new projects and continuing to screen and identify new candidates and future projects.
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