Center for Botanical Interaction Studies

Research Area:Dietary Supplements, Herbs, AntioxidantsProgram:Centers for Dietary Supplements Research: BotanicalsDescription:This center will look at safety and efficacy of botanical dietary supplements (e.g., elderberry, garlic). The center's main emphasis will be on interactions among five pathways. Signaling pathways describe a group of molecules in a cell that work together to control one or more cell functions. After the first molecule in a pathway receives a signal, it activates another molecule. This process is repeated until the last molecule is activated and the cell function involved is carried out. The function can be normal or abnormal. The primary focus being antioxidant signaling and how it relates to other pathways and mechanisms of action in preventing prostate cancer and deterioration of nerve function, as well as in improving resistance to infectiousdiseases.