IMPARTING RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN PHYTO-NUTRACEUTICALS TO INCREASE MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN FANH SCIENCES

The overall goal of the current project is to build SUAREC competency in plant based nutraceuticals that promote human health and wellness. The proposed research activities will include: a) modulating health relevant bioactive compounds in grapes; b) extraction, identification, and testing of compounds from grapes; and c) analyzing their nutraceutical property using existing in vitro model systems.The specific objectives of the project are:1. To enhance the nutraceutical-phytochemicals content of muscadine berry through stimulants/elicitors. 2. To determine the gene expression associated with flavonoid and stilbenoid synthesis in berries.3. To determine the effect of berry extracts on CSE-regulated inflammatory and protein homeostatic mechanisms in human lung epithelial cells.4. To develop leadership and technical skills of minority students in agriculture/ molecular biology research.