UIC Botanical Center - Focus on Safety and Efficacy of Botanicals
The UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements (UIC Botanical Center) evaluates the safety and efficacy of botanicals and especially those with potential benefits for women’s health, focusing on plants that are commonly available as botanical dietary supplements, which are reported to alleviate the symptoms of menopause and premenstrual syndrome. Women have experimented with herbal remedies for gynecological complaints for centuries, but until recently few systematic investigations have been carried out in the United States. The UIC Botanical Center’s studies are addressing the safety of botanicals, and their efficacy in reducing the frequency and intensity of hot flashes and other somatic symptoms in menopausal women. Additionally, the Center tests these botanicals to determine their effect on estrogen metabolism as well as their impact on estrogen carcinogenesis.
In Memoriam
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Norman R. Farnsworth, 1930 - 2011UIC Distinguished Professor |
Obituary : Norman R. Farnsworth
Norman R. Farnsworth was a UIC Distinguished Professor, Senior University Scholar and Research Professor of Pharmacognosy in the College of Pharmacy. He had been a faculty member since 1970 and served as Head of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmacology from 1970-1982. In l982 he assumed the position as...
Brief Resume NRF
News
 Richard B. van Breemen named Director, UIC/NIH Botanical Center. |
Dr. van Breemen who was formerly the co-director became director in May 2011, after the retirement of the late Norman R Farnsworth. [see “In Memoriam” at left]. Dr. van Breemen’s interests include the biomedical applications of tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) and HPLC-MS-MS, including the discovery and development of botanical natural products for cancer chemoprevention and women’s health.
Recent News & Publications
Recent News:
Richard van Breemen @UICNews article [2011.09.21]: Diets rich in tomatoes
could reduce risk of prostate cancer
http://t.co/3XGvSysY
Judy Bolton was named a 2011 ACS Fellow by the American Chemical Society.
Induction ceremony at ACS meeting Aug 29th http://t.co/v7JfYqC
Recent Publications:
Hemachandra, L. P. M. P., Chandrasena, R. E. P., Chen, S. N., Main, M., Lankin, D.C., Scism, R.A., Dietz, B.M., Pauli, G. F., Thatcher, G. R. J., and Bolton, J. L. Hops (Humulus lupulus) inhibits oxidative estrogen metabolism and estrogen induced malignant transformation in human mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A).” Cancer Prevention Res. (2011) in press.
van Breemen RB, Tao Y, Li W. Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in ginger (Zingiber officinale). Fitoterapia. 2011. 82:38-43.
Chen S-N, Friesen JB D. Nikolic, H. Fong, D. Webster, R. van Breemen, N. Farnsworth, G. Pauli. Phytoconstituents of Vitex agnus-castus fruits, Fitoterapia 2011, 82: 528-533. [PMID21163339]
Full List of Center Publications