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
In Press
Nikolic D, Godecke T, Chen S-N, White j, Lankin DC, Pauli GF, van Breemen RB. Mass spectrometric dereplication of nitrogen-containing constituents of black cohosh. (Cimicifuga racemosa L.) Fitoterapia (2012) in press.
Biological characterization of non-steroidal progestins from botanicals used for women's health. M.F. Toh, J. Sohn, S.N. Chen, P. Yau, J.L. Bolton, J.E. Burdette. Steroids (In Press).
Nikolic, D. and van Breemen, R.B. Analytical methods for quantation of prenylated flavnoids from hops. Current. Chem. (In press).
Qiu F. Friesen JB, McAlpine JB, Pauli GF. NMR-based Design of Countercurrent Separation of IGinkgo biloba Terpene Lactones.
Yuan, Y., Qiu, X., Nikolic, D., Dahl, J.H., and van Breemen, R.B. Method development and validation for UHPLC-MS-MS determination of hop prenyflavonoids in human serum. The journal of AoAC International. In press.
Center Publications:
The UIC Botanical Center's peer-reviewed articles report on our research and scholarly activity.
DOI Links: DOI links and/or links to their online abstracts and full-text versions are provided. Note: Access to most journal articles and full DOI links require journal subscription and/or are subject to user authorization.
List of Center Publications [with DOI links; just click the journal names]
List of Center Publications - PDF Format