Location: Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory
Project Number: 8040-51530-057-007-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2016
End Date: Jul 31, 2021
Objective:
To examine the effect of Brassaca microgreens on chronic disease prevention and to elucidate the mechanisms of action exerted by microgreens. We will test the hypothesis that microgreens (immature forms of plants such as cabbage and broccoli) protect against chronic diseases. Diet induced Obesity (DIO) mouse models and prostate cancer xenograft models will be used as chronic disease models. Animals will be fed a diet with or without microgreens. For a DOI model, the effect of microgreens on lipid/cholesterol metabolisms, inflammation-related markers will be assessed at protein and transcriptomic level. For cancer models, the effect of microgreens on tumor growth, cancer and inflammation-associated markers will be assessed at protein or transcriptomic levels. Objective 2. To assess the bioavailability of microgreen-derived bioactive compounds. Metabolomic analysis will be used to assess the bioavailability of microgreen bioactives using plasma and tissue samples from an in-vivo study in Objective 1. Objective 3. To examine the effects of microgreens on gut microbiome. Metagenomic analysis will be performed on cecal samples collected from Objective 1 to elucidate potential effects of microgreens on gut microbiota.
Approach:
Objective 1. To examine the effects of Brassaca microgreens on chronic disease prevention and to elucidate the mechanisms of action exerted by microgreens we will test the hypothesis that microgreens (immature forms of plants such as cabbage and broccoli) protect against chronic diseases. Diet Induced Obesity (DIO) mouse models and prostate cancer xenograft models will be used as chronic disease models. Animals will be fed a diet with or without microgreens. For the DOI model, the effect of microgreens on lipid/cholesterol metabolisms, inflammation-related markers will be assessed at protein and transcriptomic level. For the cancer model, the effect of microgreens on tumor growth, cancer and inflammation-associated markers will be assessed at protein or transcriptomic levels. Objective 2. To assess the bioavailability of microgreen-derived bioactive compounds. Metabolomic analysis will be used to assess the bioavailability of microgreen bioactives using plasma and tissue samples from an in-vivo study in Objective 1. Objective 3. To examine the effects of microgreens on gut microbiome. Metagenomic analysis will be performed on cecal samples collected from Objective 1 to elucidate potential effects of microgreens on gut microbiota.
