Current Projects

Identifying and quantifying the flavonoid content of: blueberries, cranberries, and grapes; almonds, pistachios, and walnuts; and cocoa-based foods (to contribute to future updates of the USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods).
Determine tissue bioavailability and chemopreventive properties of anthocyanin-rich extracts of blueberries, cranberries, and grapes in animal models.
Determining the bioavailability of cranberry anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds in healthy older adults.
Determining the effect of almonds (rich in flavonoids and vitamin E) on biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular reactivity in humans.
Determining the effects of walnuts on antioxidant activity and nutritional status in health older adults.
Testing whether hibiscus tea (rich in anthocyanins) lowers blood pressure in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults.
Investigating in vitro and in vivo the effect of age on quercetin bioavailability and metabolism due to changes in phase II enzyme activity.
Testing whether exposure of rat dams to a â€œWesternâ€ diet during pregnancy and lactation will increase obese phenotypes in their pups and whether dietary flavonoids, particularly isoflavones, will decrease the obese phenotype.

Learn More

For more information about the Antioxidants Research Laboratory, please visit the USDA, Agricultural Research Service.

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