Department of Nutritional Biochemistry

Department of Nutritional Biochemistry

Research

The Department of Biochemistry of Nutrition is composed of an interdisciplinary research team with expertise in nutrition, molecular biology, biochemistry, medicine and pharmacology. Oncological questions are the focus of attention. In this context, Prof. Dr. Dr. Venturelli's team concentrates on the following research areas:

  • The identification and characterization of epigenetically active natural and food ingredients including vitamins for cancer therapy. The main focus is the investigation of natural histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi)
  • Research into food-based agents for the activation of therapy-induced senescence (TIS).
  • Human organoids from colonic tissue in combination with autologous immune cells as a molecular biological tool for the characterization of new drugs and bioactive natural products.
  • Screening for natural or food-associated modulators of the human immune system for perspective application in either sepsis therapy (immune-inhibiting) or tumor therapy (immune-stimulating)




Department of Nutritional Biochemistry (140c)

Garbenstraße 30
Bio Geb. I
70599 Stuttgart

Postal address:
University of Hohenheim
Dept. of Nutritional Biochemistry (140c)
70593 Stuttgart

+49 (0)711 459 24113
Email

Teaching

In teaching, the department represents the fundamentals of biochemistry in the context of nutrition, diseases, metabolism and human metabolism in the nutritional bachelor and master courses. These contents are taught in lectures, seminars and practical courses.

The bachelor modules focus on the general basics of biochemistry including molecular biological laboratory techniques and methods. Based on the contents of the bachelor's programme, the master's modules focus on a deeper insight into the functioning of living cells and the pathologies or clinical pictures that can be derived from them.

 

Find our courses in the course catalog via HohCampus. Follow the folder structure: Fakultät Naturwissenschaften > Ernährungswissenschaften (140) > Fg. Biochemie der Ernährung (140c)

News

The Hopsteiner HHV GmbH supports the search for new treatment strategies against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has become a worldwide health problem in recent months. Despite intensive protective measures and safety precautions, the virus and thus also the associated disease COVID-19 continues to spread, with sometimes devastating health, social and economic consequences. Therefore, extensive work is being done globally on vaccine development, but unfortunately there are currently no approved vaccines available in Germany. Therefore, the search for alternative treatment strategies is of special importance, both to prevent a viral infection by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and to support the immune system in fighting the virus in case of an already existing infection - in addition to a hopefully promptly available and effective vaccine.
The company Hopsteiner HHV GmbH substantially supports the University Hospital Tübingen and the University of Hohenheim in a research project, which aims to characterize and evaluate drug candidates isolated from hops for a potential antiviral activity in order to be able to use them in the course of overcoming the corona pandemic.

 

 

Topics for Bachelor and Master Thesis

We offer exiting topics for Bachelor and Master Theses. You can also bring own ideas.

Please make an appointment to discuss your ideas with

Publications

The scientific publication of the Department of Nutritional Biochemistry(140c) can be found in:

Publications

Research Projects (Selection)

A small selection of currently running projects at the department.

Innovative drug candidates from food

 

This nationally and internationally externally funded project investigates the two prenylflavonoids 6- and 8-prenylnaringenin from hops and beer as innovative drug candidates for tumor therapy and prevention of malignant melanoma (black skin cancer) and hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC).

Molecular characterization of high-dose therapy with vitamin C

 

 

 

 

This project supported by Pascoe pharmazeutische Präparate GmbH characterizes the molecular properties of a parenteral high-dose therapy with vitamin C. On the one hand, the molecular biological influence of vitamin C on the proliferation of malignant cells will be investigated, on the other hand the modulation of the cytokine response of human immune cells will be evaluated.

Human organoids as an alternative to animal experiments

 

 

 

 

This project, funded by the state of Baden-Württemberg, focuses on the establishment of human organoids from tumour and normal tissue combined with autologous immune cells as a molecular biological tool for clinical, pharmacological and nutritional research in order to replace animal experiments in these areas in the long term.