Up Coming Events
Joint Meeting Princeton & Trenton ACS Sections
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Our Guest Speaker Will Be
Nicholi Vorsa, PhD
Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University
Topic
“Cranberry Polyphenols and their Potential Benefit to Human Health: Cranberry
Flavonoid Bioactivities and Bioavailability”
Time / Venue
6:00 PM, Rider University,
Fireside Lounge, Bart Ludeke Student Center
Abstract
Cranberry flavonoids have been associated with a number of beneficial health effects. Cranberry consumption isreputed to be protective against urinary tract infections and cardiovascular diseases. Other benefits include activity against dental caries, as anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Since the 1800’s, cranberry consumption has
been recommended as a remedy for urinary tract infection or dysuria. In vitro, cranberry Atype proanthocyanidins interfere with the adhesion of the principal pathogen in urinary infection, europathogenic P-fimbriated E. coli bacteria.
The inhibition of bacterial adherence by cranberry proanthocyanidins is currently thought to be the principal mechanism for urinary tract health. Cranberry is uniquely rich in a number of flavonoid classes including the
mentioned proanthocyanidins, as well as flavonols and anthocyanins. All three classes are thought contribute to the
very high anti-oxidant potential of cranberry relative to other fruit crops. The consumption of cranberry products have
exhibited positive effects in vivo. However, the bioavailability, metabolism, tissue distribution and excretion of the various cranberry flavonoid compounds in vivo are little understood. A fuller understanding of the benefits of cranberry for human health will require elucidation of their absorption characteristics, metabolism, sites of activity and excretion.
Biography
Professor Nicholi Vorsa received an MS in Plant Breeding and Genetics in 1978 from University of Wisconsin-
Madison, and a PhD from Rutgers University in 1984. He joined the Rutgers faculty in 1985 and is currently Professor
in the Department of Plant Biology and Pathology. He is Director of the Rutgers University PE Marucci Center of Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension, Chatsworth, NJ. His research identified A-type proanthocyanidins
in cranberry that inhibit the adhesion of uropathogenic P-fimbriated E. coli to Gal(α1–4) Galβ moieties of human
erythrocyte membrane glycolipids. In collaboration with other laboratories additional bioactivities of cranberry
components have been identified including cytotoxicity to and increasing the sensitivity of platinum drug resistant
ovarian cancer cell lines to platinum drugs, inhibitory effects against S. mutans involved with dental caries, and antiinflammatory
activities. The bioavailability and metabolism of cranberry flavonoids in vivo are the current area of
focus. His