In-vitro investigations of nutraceuticals used for skin ageing

• Conducted research projects on three substances: L-ascorbic acid, a-lipoic acid Green tea catechins, Coenzyme Q10 by employing multi photon microscopy techniques.
• CoQ1O manuscript prepared

• Enhanced collagen production in response to topical Vitamin C application in normal human subject submitted to peer review journal
• Commercial, IP implications for enhanced delivery being explored
• Presentations
  • Poster presentation, Perspectives in Percutaneous Penetration, La Grande Motte, France 2010.  “Enhanced collagen production in response to topical vitamin C application in a normal human subject.”

In vitro and preclinical studies of I.V. ascorbate in cancer treatment

• Ascobate and cancer: studied a range of cancer tissue cell lines of different aetiologies (eg breast, prostate, lung and others) and non malignant primary matching tissues cells for their susceptibility to ascorbate in the presence of human serum.  
• Phase I trials designed and planned to commence in 2010
• Submitted research funding proposal to PA Medical Research Foundation for 2010-2011 “The in vitro and in vivo effects of ascorbate on cancer.”
• Vitamin C (ascorbate): its physiological roles in health and disease” L Vitetta and AW Linnane submitted to Inflammopharmcology.
• PhD Student (Chenfeng Chen) began in 2009. Has presented at International Conferences [AIMA 2010, ACNEM/CSIRO 2011, ASMR 2011].
• Publications:
  • Chen CF, Zhao KN, Linnane AW, Masci P, Vitetta L. The in vitro and in vivo effects of pharmacologic doses of ascorbate on cancer. 16th Intl Australasian Integrative Medicine Holistic Health Conference, Sunshine Coast, Australia, 3-5 Sept 2010.
  • Chen C, Zhao KN, Masci P, Linnane AW, Vitetta L. Mathematical Modelling and Molecular Mechanism of Pharmacologic Ascorbate‐Induced Cytotoxicity In Cancer Cells. Intl Conference on the Science of Nutrition in Medicine and Healthcare. May 13-15;2011;78. Sydney, Australia.
  • Vitetta L. The role of intravenous [IV] Vitamin C [Ascorbate] in the therapeutic treatment of Cancer. Intl Conference on the Science of Nutrition in Medicine and Healthcare. May13-15;2011;71-72. Sydney, Australia.

Probiotic studies in gastrointestinal health

• Completed two years of research involving probiotics and gastrointestinal health with collaborative industry partners. 
  • Investigated two Bifidobacteria strains; one Lactobacillus strain and one Streptococcus strain in large bowel cancer and inflammation in vitro and rat models.
• Paper submitted to the British Journal of Nutrition: “Probiotics as a prophylactic and therapeutic intervention for intestinal inflammation.”
• Commentary on “Probiotics regulation of gut inflammation and immunity” In Preparation.
• PhD Student (David Briskey) began in 2009. Established collaboration with QIMR and Munster University, Germany.
• Submitted an ARC Linkage Project Grant and DHF Grants for Medical Research Grant Application
• Collaboration with University of Tasmania have resulted in publications:
  • Vitetta L. Probiotics and commensal bacteria in the regulation of gut inflammation and immunity. The Australasian Integrative Medicine Association 17^th International Integrative Medicine Conference. October 14-16;2011. Manly, Australia.
  • Vitetta L. Probiotics: An Update. Intl Conference on the Science of Nutrition in Medicine and Healthcare. May13-15;2011;72. Sydney, Australia.
  • Shing CM, Peake JM, Lim F, Briskey D, Vitetta L. Response to exercise in the heat following a period of probiotics supplementation. 16th Congress of the European College of Sports Science in Liverpool July 6-9, 2011.
  • Shing CM, Peake JM, Lim F, Briskey D, Vitetta L. Response to exercise in the heat following a period of probiotics supplementation. 10th Symposium of Intl Society of Exercise and Immunology in Oxford July 11-13, 2011.

Cardiovascular actions of herbal products

• Examination of actions and mechanisms of preparations containing Radix Polygoni Multiflori (PM) and Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (SM) on cardiovascular cells and in animal models. 
• Clinical trial at Monash University was established to test the tolerance and physiological responses to the herbal medicine CP in a Western population.  (Funded by Chinese Government)
• Review article “Cell Adhesion Molecules as the Predictor and Therapeutic Target in Atherosclerosis” was completed.
• Presentations: Findings were presented at AAS Annual Scientific Meeting (Melbourne 2009) and the Endocrine Society’s Annual Meetings in Washington DC in 2009 and San Diego 2010.
• Publications
  • Ling S et al A pharmaceutical preparation of Salvia miltiorrhiza protects cardiac myoctyes from tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis and reduces angiotension II-induced collagen synthesis in fibroblasts.   Phytomedicine 2009, 16:56-64
  • O’Brien KA, et al. A Chinese herbal preparation containing polygonum multiform and radix salvia miltiorrhiza reduces cardiovascular disease risk.  Evidence Based Complementary Medicine.

Discovery and development of traditional Chinese medicines and novel lead compounds for diabetes and obesity therapy

• Ruled out the direct action of berberine at the insulin signaling pathway to enhance its insulin sensitising effect.  Focused was shifted to AMPK signaling pathway.
• Sought funding support for the use of proteomics approach with berberine as a chemical probe to pinpoint the primary cellular target(s) for future drug screening. 
• Developed novel therapeutic lead compounds from TCM’s for treating diabetes, following the knowledge and experience gained from studies of berberine.
• Professor David James has been awarded a Honorary Professorship and A/Pro Jiming Ye a Visiting Professorship by Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM)
• Presentations
  • Ye JM et al. Novel approaches for the discovery and development of new anti-diabetic therapeutics from traditional Chinese.  Invited talk at the 7^th Annual Congress of International Drug Discovery Science and Technology (Shanghai China) in October 2009.
  • Ye JM et al:  Development of a systemic and targeted screening process for the discovery of new anti-diabetic molecules derived from traditional Chinese medicines. Invited talk at the 5^th Scientific Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Diabetes and Obesity Study Group (Tokyo Japan) in August 2009.
  • Zeng Xy, Wang YP, Hegarty B, Cantley J, Iseli TH, Ren LP, James DE, Ye Y, Ye YM. The triterpenoid yC5-4 exerts sustained therapeutic effects on hyperglycemia in diabetic mice beyond the treatment period (Abstract, submitted to Australian Diabetes Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney in September 2010).

Investigation into the anti-inflammatory antiplatelet and immuno-modulating effects of herbal medicines

Clinical pharmacology of interactions between regularly used herbal products and conventional medicines

• PhD student (Sarah Yarmand) supported for three years.  Thesis topic – Use of complementary medicines for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.
• Submitted HREC application in April 2010 on “Assessment of Patient’s Expectations and Perceptions Regarding the use of Complementary Medicines to treat Osteoarthritis.”
• NICM research priorities report presented as a poster at the Annual Meeting of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists.
• Publication
  • Mohammed Abul MI, Jiang x, Williams KM, Ray RO, Rougfagalis BD, Liauw WS, Xu H, Mattihias A, Lehmann RP, AJ McLachlan (2010).  Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction of Echinacea and policosanol with warfin in healthy subjects.  Br J Clin Pharmocol 69. 508-515
• Presentations
  • A study of Evogen, a complementary medicine, for the treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.  Williams KM, Anderson-Stewart P, Yarmand S, Lim C, De La Hoz A, Day RO.  ASCEPT, Sydney December 2009

Content updated May 2011