5.12.2024
Doctoral thesis on pain relief herbal stilbenoid compounds from pine and spruce
M.Sc. Pharm.D. Atefeh Saadabadi’s doctoral thesis in Pharmacy will be put forth for public defence at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Åbo Akademi University.
The thesis is entitled An Investigation into the Molecular Interactions and Biological Effect of Natural Stilbenoids at the TRPA1 and TRPV4 Ion Channels.
The public defence of the doctoral thesis takes place on 12 December 2024 at 1PM, in Auditorium 1, Geologicum, Tuomiokirkkotori 1, Turku. You can also follow the defence online. Docent, Senior Researcher Maija Lahtela-Kakkonen, Östra Finlands universitet och kustos är docent, äldre universitetslektor Outi Salo-Ahen, Åbo Akademi.
Summary
In his doctoral research, Atefeh Saadabadi explored plant-based compounds known as stilbenoids for their potential to relieve pain and inflammation. These natural compounds found for example in spruce and pine trees, may offer a novel approach to managing pain and inflammation by interacting with specific ion channels in the body called TRPA1 and TRPV4. The activation of these channels is associated with conditions such as chronic pain, colitis, pancreatitis, and headaches. The research aimed to understand if and how stilbenoids bind to these channels to block pain signals, potentially providing a novel way to treat pain and inflammation.
Using advanced computational modeling and molecular simulations along with biological testing, Atefeh Saadabadi analyzed the interaction between stilbenoids and the TRPA1 and TRPV4 channels. The results suggests that while stilbenoids may be promising for targeting TRPA1, they may not be as effective for TRPV4. Additionally, the study also addressed some practical challenges associated with stilbenoids. These compounds are sensitive to light and break down easily, which limits their use. To overcome this, Atefeh Saadabadi developed a method to efficiently isolate stilbenoids from Scots pine and Norway spruce. He then tested storing them in tiny particles called mesoporous silica nanoparticles, which protected them from UV light and improved their stability.
This research offers valuable insights into how stilbenoids interact with pain-related channels in the body. By developing efficient extraction and stabilization methods, the study sets a foundation for future research to explore stilbenoids in drug development for pain and inflammation relief.
Atefeh Saadabadi can be reached by email atefeh.saadabadi@abo.fi.
The doctoral thesis can be read online through the Doria publication archive.
No photo of the doctoral student available.
Instructions for following the doctoral defence remotely:
To follow the defence, you need the Zoom software or the Google Chrome browser. You do not need to create a Zoom account to follow the defence. If you install the application, you participate by clicking on the meeting link, after which you should allow the link to open in the Zoom app.