World Nutraceutical Conference and Expo July 13-15, 2015 Philadelphia, USA

Biography:

Michael Dodson is a medical graduate who has completed a PhD and masters degrees in public health and health management.A previous senior medical advisor and Office head at the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration, he spent two years as Associate Dean for the University of Notre Dame Australia clinical school in Melbourne before taking up the role of Medical Director for Blackmores, Australia’s most trusted nutraceutical company. Dr Dodson is currently a member of the Australian Advisory Committee on Non-Prescription Medicines and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Western Sydney.

Abstract:

Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Obesity is a key risk factor for NCD and accounts for significant morbidity, mortality and economic costs. The prevalence of obesity has increased over the past 30 years and is likely to increase further in the coming decade. This is likely related to the complex interplay of biological, behavioural, psychological, social and environmental influences, and the lack of perceived risk of the disorder in relation to health outcomes. These factors also combine to produce a condition that is difficult to prevent and difficult to treat. Population based strategies provide a cost effective and potentially highly effective way of tackling highly prevalent conditions such as obesity and relatively small changes in population BMI is likely to be associated with significant health benefits and health care savings across the population. Nutraceutical products sit at the interface between pharmaceuticals and foods. Generally low risk, they are available for self-selection by consumers and therefore can be marketed broadly to the population. Products able to help individuals achieve a tangible degree of weight-loss, that are taken up by a significant proportion of the general population are potentially able to deliver significant health benefits and healthcare savings- particularly if these can be integrated into a program of lifestyle change. A snapshot of nutraceuticals with weight-loss claims available in the Australian market is provided. The evidence supporting currently marketed products is limited but a real opportunity exists to develop, test and market effective weight loss products.

Biography:

Mark JS Miller is a unique, innovative and entrepreneurial scientist with a heady track record of success in business. With three decades of experience as a Professor and elite researcher, Dr. Miller currently approaches unmet consumer needs using the opportunities offered by natural products and nutrition. His product innovations, marketing skills and ground-breaking research has crossed numerous disciplines offering a unique scientific and global perspective.

Abstract:

As we develop more sophisticated tools to measure and monitor health and tissue function we tend to discard traditional medicines as a source of innovation. We discount experience and because they are discussed in simple language it is common to discount their value. However, the rich history of experience can be a poignant and directed teacher. Using examples of personal research on South American traditional botanicals when evaluated with modern sophisticated techniques (epigenetics, metabolomics, disease models) one can not only decipher how the traditional medicines offer benefit and the molecular basis for the traditional use, but insight can be drawn for new applications and synergism with other natural products or nutritionals. Examples to be discussed include, fertility, fish farming, inflammation, arthritis, cartilage repair, nausea and GI disorders and itch/skin disorders.

Biography:

Alok Bhushan received his PhD degree in Biochemistry in 1981 from Punjab Agricultural University. He did his Post-doctorate from Johns Hopkins University, Medical University of South Carolina and University of Vermont in USA. Following that, he joined Idaho State University in 1998 as a faculty member and during his tenure there, he served as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor and the Assistant Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Currently he is Chair and Professor of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Jefferson School of Pharmacy in Thomas Jefferson University. He has over 70 publications.

Abstract:

Some flavonoids are known to exert anti-cancer effects by inhibiting cancer cell progression. Genistein, an isoflavone is bioactive and is present in plant products like soy. Epidemiological studies indicate geographic areas where there is increased human consumption of soy products have a lower incidence of cancer. Although not fully understood, there is some evidence isoflavones target tyrosine phosphorylation, topoisomerases and drug transporters. Our studies have therefore the goal of elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the putative anti-cancer effect of Biochanin A (5,7-Dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone, BioA), which is an isoflavone present in red clover, chick peas, soy, peanuts and many legumes. We noted BioA blocked the proliferation of glioblastoma, breast, pancreatic and oral squamous cancer cells. We observed BioA inhibited cell signaling pathways (e.g., MAP kinase, PI3kinase and mTOR) involved in tumor progression and matrix-metalloproteases, resulting in blocking invasion of the cancer cells. Angiogenesis is necessary for the progression of cancer cells to form tumors: Thus, tumors release angiogenic factors to stimulate the growth of capillaries that supply nutrients and oxygen to them. Consistent with the latter generation is our observation that chemical induced hypoxia increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor and VEGF in C6 rat glioma cells: BioA blocked this effect and the proliferation and migration of bEnd.3 endothelial cells. BioA also sensitized glioma cells to tamador, a drug for treating glioblastoma. Our findings strongly suggest BioA present in the diet may suppress tumor growth and be used in prevention and combination chemotherapy that would lead to a better outcome of cancer treatment.

Biography:

Gagan Kaushal has completed his PhD from St. John’s University. He is presently working as an Associate Professor in Pharmaceutics at Thomas Jefferson University. Prior to this, he served Associate Professor at University of Charleston, Postdoctoral Associate at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, and Senior Research Scientist, Formulations at Biosyn Inc. His expertise includes drug delivery systems, formulation development, pharmacokinetics, controlled drug delivery, drug stability, and drug solubility. His interests are focused on compounding, formulation development, stability studies, bio-analysis, and pharmacokinetic studies. He also has two Investigational New Drug Applications (INDA) approved by FDA.

Abstract:

Capsaicinoids are the compounds that give pungency to peppers. Capsaicinoids trigger pain receptors in mammals. However, long-time exposure to capsaicinoids dulls the pain receptors, making them less sensible to the compounds that trigger pain. For this reason capsaicinoids are gaining pharmaceutical use as a long-term pain reliever. Chronic back pain is the most common cause of activity limitation for people under 45 in the United States. A key point in our study is to develop value added pepper varieties adapted to local conditions. For our study, we have used a multi-disciplinary approach. At present, there is an increasing demand of vegetables with high contents of health promoting compounds in the U.S. markets. We have expanded our deliverables to include backcross derived improved varieties for various biomedical applications. Another goal of this project is the development and use of sequence based haplotyping models for cost-effective association mapping of nutraceutical traits in pepper. This method has allowed us to screen 88 accessions of Capsicum annuum. Coupling the capsaicinoids level data in the different accession to genetic studies will allow us to mine for better alleles to be used in breeding varieties with specific capsaicinoid concentrations. Two gel formulations of capsaicinoids were tested for their diffusion across rat skins. The results showed that both formulations tested diffuse capsaicinoids with over 50% efficiency.

Biography:

Dr. Aswathy Ravindran Girija is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Bio-Nano Electronics Research Center of Graduate School of Interdisciplinary New Science in Toyo University, Japan

Abstract:

Nutraceuticals are defined as non-toxic food components extracted from foods that has scientifically established potential health benefits for disease treatment and disease prevention. Nutraceuticals that are for human consumption are marketed in concentrated forms such as capsules, pills, and powders for oral delivery and tinctures for topical applications or as suppositories containing food bioactive components. The reduced bioavailability, stability and permeability of the bioactive components in the gastrointestinal (GI) fluids leads to their partial absorption from the GI tract during their first pass metabolism. This results in their reduced or almost no biological activity, which is a major concern of the researchers today. In the conventional mode of delivery of nutraceuticals, a portion of the administered nutraceutical dose is absorbed and reaches the actual pharmacological site of action where as the remainder portion is either excreted or instigates non-specific toxicity and adverse side effects owing to undesirable bio-distribution. To overcome these problems, principles of nanotechnology have been used for the efficient delivery of nutraceuticals. The concept of nano-delivery system has emerged to acquire several modes of administration to interpret the problems associated with their absorption. There has been a significant progress in the development of nano-nutraceuticals and delivery of lipophilic nutraceuticals via nanotechnology. Effective solubilization, encapsulation, and delivery, based on nanoscience and technology, as biocompatible systems are projected to bestow them with properties like excellent absorption in lower doses, reduced frequency of administration, and amended therapeutic index. The nano-formulations also offer targeted delivery of the encapsulated nutraceuticals and also demonstrate slow and sustained release from the nano-formulation. An excellent example to demonstrate the advent of nanotechnology for the incredible enhancement in the solubility and the bioavailability of curcumin, a potential nutraceutical with several significant properties including anti-cancer potential, has been evidenced by various in vitro and in vivo studies, by the development of various nano-formulations. We have demonstrated that the encapsulation of curcumin along with magnetic nanoparticles exhibited excellent reduction in cancer cells in vitro in the synergistic with that of magnetic hyperthermia. We have also successfully encapsulated lutein, another potential nutraceutical, into polymeric nanoparticles, thus enhancing the solubility of the same. We have also developed a cream using nano-lutein and curcumin for cosmetic applications.

Biography:

Habibur Rahman is an Associate professor in the department of pharmaceutics PSG College of Pharmacy, India

Abstract:

Curcumin, a traditional herb and active ingredient of curcuma longa (Turmeric) is known for its wide pharmacological actions. Poor bioavailability of curcumin curtails the therapeutic utility of this potent molecule as drug. Lipid technology is one of the recent approaches developed to enhance bioavailability. In this line, the present study focused on the development of solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) loaded with curcumin for enhanced bioavailability. Curcumin SLN was prepared using sterotex NF, Gelucire 33/01 and sterotex HM as lipids, Tween 80, Gelucire 44/14, PVP and propylene glycol (PG) as surfactants and co-surfactants. The developed formulations were subjected to various characterisation studies. The results suggest that the formulation prepared using Sterotex HM, Tween 80 and PG (CU5b) to be optimized formulation based on the particle size (127 nm), drug entrapment (90.40%) and in vitro drug release (82% at the end of 24 hr) analysis. The optimized curcumin SLN is subjected to pharmacokinetic and brain distribution studies in rats. The drug concentration in plasma and brain was quantified by developed HPLC method. The curcumin SLN showed more than 10 fold increases in bioavailability and dose dependent increase in bioavailability was observed for the developed optimized formulation. Based on the results it is evident that curcumin bioavailability and brain availability was promisingly improved in the form of SLN. The curcumin & SLN curcumin in both the doses was efficient in two compartment model in rat with a fitting weight coefficient of 1/C2. Further and IVIVC should be carried out to establish the nutraceutical curcumin role as drug.

Biography:

Alok Bhushan received his PhD degree in Biochemistry in 1981 from Punjab Agricultural University. He did his Post-doctorate from Johns Hopkins University, Medical University of South Carolina and University of Vermont in USA. Following that, he joined Idaho State University in 1998 as a faculty member and during his tenure there, he served as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor and the Assistant Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Currently he is Chair and Professor of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Jefferson School of Pharmacy in Thomas Jefferson University. He has over 70 publications.

Abstract: