Environmental pollutant-related chronic diseases

Environmental pollutant-related chronic diseases

As is now well recognized, environmental exposure is linked to the pathophysiology of a number of chronic diseases including cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson. More »

Cancer biology, therapy and prevention

Cancer biology, therapy and prevention

Cancer is the number one cause of death among the Thai population. Finding the way to cure cancer is a challenging task for scientist. More »

Malaria

Malaria

Searching for antimalarial activity of compounds derived from natural sources and synthetic compounds has been conducted for more than a decade. More »

Metal contamination in foods

Metal contamination in foods

Metals and their derivatives are extensively used in industry, agriculture, and public health. They also occur naturally. Metals such as mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) are the main toxic metals released from mining, chemical industry More »

Natural products for drug development and other value-added products

Natural products for drug development and other value-added products

Traditional medicine has been an integral part of Thai society for centuries. The Ministry of Public Health includes Thai medicinal plants in its list of essential drugs for the primary health care system of the nation. More »

 


          As Thailand becomes more industrialized, greater amounts of chemicals are being used and released into the environment. Thus, with technological advancements, humans are increasingly being exposed to environmental toxicants. Moreover, many chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and cardiovascular diseases are found to be associated with exposure to environmental toxicants. Metals (i.e. arsenic, cadmium, and mercury) and pesticides (i.e.  chlorpyrifos, atrazine, 2, 4-D, paraquat and glyphosate) are the two groups of chemicals that we are interested in. Special attention is given to alterations of neuronal cholinergic and non-neuronal cholinergic receptors and their signaling pathways leading to the altered physiological responses in chronic diseases. In addition, the cross talks between neuronal and immunological systems have been investigated. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of the toxic effects of these chemicals may potentially lead to treatment and prevention of the harmful effects of these toxicants.
          Environmental pollutants, metals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals, as risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), i.e. cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases, have been focused. Mechanisms of action of these environmental risk factors are studied focusing on various signaling pathways, both genomic and non-genomic mechanisms. Intercention or prevention of these NCDs will be studied using bioactive compounds from traditional herbal drugs or functional foods.