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Identification of bioactive compounds from tef (Eragrostis tef) seed extracts for antioxidant properties.

Award Number: SC2GM144193
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2024

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Identification of bioactive compounds from tef (Eragrostis tef) seed extracts for antioxidant properties. - Summary Cellular oxidative stress is a risk factor for several human disease including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer. Natural and food products have a great potential to protect cells under oxidative stress conditions. Tef (Eragrostis tef) is gluten-free grain that is rich in mineral nutrients, essential amino acids, and water-soluble vitamins and several bioactive phytochemicals including polyphenols, flavonoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Tef has been recognized by the U.S. National Research Council as a crop with excellent nutritional potential and suitability to boost food security. However, the bioactivity of tef phytochemicals have never been studied using physiologically relevant models. In this study, we propose to identify bioactive compounds in tef grains and test their ability to combat oxidative stress, thus preventing the pathogenic conditions associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damages. This initiative is based on our recent finding indicating that: 1) tef seed extracts increase glutathione (GSH) levels in THP-1 monocytes, 2) an increase in GSH level is more prominent in brown than ivory tef seeds, suggesting the existence of genotypic variability in the content of bioactive compound, 3) Tef seed extracts increase the expression of the master regulator of antioxidant pathway nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its targets including Heme Oxygenase 1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase1 (NQO1), glutathione reductase (GR) and the γ-glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic (GCLC) and regulatory (GCLM) subunit, which play a key role in GSH biosynthesis, 4) A bioactive fraction of tef extract contains a derivative of linoleic acid (LA) 9-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HODE), which is a marker for membrane lipid peroxidation. These findings prompted us to hypothesize that tef has bioactive compounds which have the potential to boost the antioxidant pathway under oxidative stress conditions likely via Nrf2 signaling. Our aims are: 1) Identification and functional characterization of bioactive phytochemicals from tef seeds, 2) Studying whether tef bioactive compounds induce oxidative stress-responsive genes, and protect cells from ROS, 3) Understanding the genetic mechanism regulating antioxidant properties of tef. This study will help in developing alternative medicines for oxidative stress-induced diseases. It will also generate new information that can be used to improve tef or transferred to major cereals to add value to these crops. This funding will boost the capacity of the Osena laboratory to explore underutilized crops such as millets for desirable traits including health benefits. The Osena laboratory and the environment at UNC Greensboro are ideal for this research, and training students from underrepresented minority group.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $145,500 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO	1000 SPRING GARDEN ST	GREENSBORO	NC	27412	GUILFORD	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	3	6/18/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$14,550
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO	1000 SPRING GARDEN ST	GREENSBORO	NC	27412	GUILFORD	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	12/22/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$130,950
														Subtotal = $145,500

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $141,991 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO	1000 SPRING GARDEN STREET	GREENSBORO	NC	27412	GUILFORD	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	2	4/17/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$14,200
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO	1000 SPRING GARDEN STREET	GREENSBORO	NC	27412	GUILFORD	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	12/26/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$127,791
														Subtotal = $141,991

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $140,309 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO	1000 SPRING GARDEN STREET	GREENSBORO	NC	27412	GUILFORD	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	1/20/2022	NEW	$140,309
														Subtotal = $140,309

Grand Total All Awards = $427,800

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Identification of bioactive compounds from tef (Eragrostis tef) seed extracts for antioxidant properties.

Award Number: SC2GM144193

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2024

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