Research Areas
- Natural Products
- Cancer
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Obesity
Scientific Achievements
- Investigated various natural compounds as anticancer agents to target different signaling pathways linked to cancer progression and metastasis.
- Established the potential of natural compounds to manage inflammation and oxidative stress-mediated neurodegenerative disease.
- Collaboration with Sahel Oncology LLC, Orange Coast Medical Center of Hope Inc, California.
- Revealed the anti-obesogenic mechanism of Muscadine grapes.
Funding
RCMI Funding: The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) # U54 MD007582.
Scientific Advance
Involvement of AKT/PI3K Pathway in Sanguinarine-Induced Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.
Published in Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2023, 20, 323-342, doi:10.21873/cgp . 20385”.
Published in Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2023, 20, 323-342, doi:10.21873/cgp . 20385”.
This study highlighted the potential anticancer properties of the natural compound sanguinarine. Investigating the molecular mechanism underlying sanguinarine activity was established in two genetically different models of triple-negative breast cancer: MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells. The finding revealed the ability of the compound to decrease cell viability and disrupt cell cycle progression in breast cancer cells. The compound also altered the expression of various genes associated with apoptosis. The study points to the importance of introducing natural compounds to clinical trials as a solo or adjunct candidate for treating aggressive types of breast cancer.
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) # U54 MD007582.
