• Graduated with Masters from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria. Ph. D. in Pharmacognosy (Dr. rer. nat.) from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, 1992.
• Interests in the field of plant cell culture development, preferably from medicinal plants, induction of bioactive natural product biosynthesis, identification, isolation, purification. Developed radio- and enzymeimmunoassays for the quantitation of Galanthamine, an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid with potent reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibiting activity. Galanthamine HBr is commercially available as Nivalin^®. Established immunoassays for quantitation of Colchicine, which is a water soluble alkaloid with cytotoxic activity, present in several species of Liliaceae. Isolated soil microorganisms capable of highly efficient regioselective demethylation at C-3 of the Colchicine structure - an important reaction toward semi-synthetical modification of the molecule, aimed to the synthesis of less toxic derivatives.
• Participated in the development of a pilot scale plant cell culture-based process for the production of Paclitaxel - complex diterpen structure with anticancer activity. This compound was approved by the FDA for treatment of certain types of cancer, and commercialized by the Bristol Myers Squibb Company under the name of Taxol^®.
• Developed novel processes for commercially feasible purification and production of natural products with potent anticancer activity (patents issued). Established analytical HPLC methods for qualitative and quantitative determination of natural products. Developed preparative HPLC methods for product isolation. Developed MPLC and large scale column separation methods for product isolation and purification.
• As a member of Dr. I. Raskin's group in the Biotech Center, Cook College, Rutgers, he is developing analytical and preparative methods utilizing HPLC, LC-MS, and LC-MS/MS techniques for separation and identification of pharmacologically valuable natural products in plant material. Participated in the structural elucidation of two biologically active compounds with plant origin not reported previously in the literature. Working on targeted rhizosecretion of bioactive compounds from elicited plants. Key member of the drug discovery group.
• Just loves his LC-MS toys, with which pharmacologically valuable natural products in plant material are being chased...

Publications, patents, & poster presentations:

1. Komarnytsky, S., D. Govorko, D. Esposito, J. O'Neal, A. Poulev, I. Raskin. Ikemagenin ameliorates obesity by modulating visceral signaling and glucocorticoid biosynthesis. Submitted, 2008.
2. Nebojša Ilić, Moul Dey, Alexander Poulev, Sithes Logendra and Ilya Raskin. Anti-inflammatory activity of Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta Schum) extract. Submitted, 2008.
3. D. M. Ribnicky, P. Kuhn, A. Poulev, S. Logendra, A. Zuberi, W. T. Cefalu, and I. Raskin. Improved absorption and bioactivity of active compounds from an anti-diabetic extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, accepted, 2008.
4. M. H. Grace, D. M. Ribnicky, P. Kuhn, A. Poulev, S. Logendra, G. Yousef, I. Raskin, and M. A. Lila. Hypoglycemic activity of a novel anthocyanin-rich formulation from lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton. Phytochemistry, accepted, 2008.
5. J. Gorelick-Feldman, D. Maclean, N. Ilić, A. Poulev, M. A. Lila, D. Cheng, and I. Raskin. Phytoecdysteroids Increase Protein Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle Cells. J. Agric. and Food Chem., 56: 3532-3537, 2008.
6. Laura K. Stewart, Jeff L. Soileau, David Ribnicky, Zhong Q. Wang, IIya Raskin, Alexander Poulev, Martin Majewski, William T. Cefalu, and Thomas W. Gettys. Quercetin Increases Energy Expenditure and Decreases Circulating Markers of Inflammation in C57BL/6J Mice Fed a High Fat Diet, Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental 57:S39-S46, 2008.
7. Barbara Schmidt, David M. Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Sithes Logendra, William T. Cefalu and Ilya Raskin. A Natural History of Botanical Therapeutics, Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental 57:S3-S9, 2008.
8. Ribnicky, D. M., B. Schmidt, A. Poulev, W. T. Cefalu, and I. Raskin. Evaluation of botanicals for improving human health. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., Vol. 87(suppl), 472S-475S, 2008.
9. Ma, J., B. M. Schmidt, A. Poulev, I. Raskin. Determination of tripdiolide in root extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii by solid phase extraction and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Phytochemical Analysis, Vol. 19, No. 4, 348-352, 2008.
10. Ilić, N., B. M. Schmidt, A. Poulev, and I. Raskin. Toxicological evaluation of Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta). Food Chem. Tox., submitted, 2007.
11. Schmidt, B. M., A. Poulev, M. Dey, M. Gries, A. G. Kurmukov, S. K. Zakirov, N. R. Lyapina, I. Belolipov, M. A. Lila, and I. Raskin. An extract from Artemisia leucodes reduces acute and chronic inflammation in rats. J. Ethnopharmacology, submitted, 2007.
12. Dmitry Govorko, Sithes Logendra, Yanxin Wang, Debora Esposito, David Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, William T. Cefalu, and Ilya Raskin. Polyphenolic Compounds from Artemisia dracunculus L. Inhibit PEPCK Gene Expression and Gluconeogenesis in an H4IIE Hepatoma Cell Line. AJP: Endocrinology and Metabolism, 293(6): E1503-10, Dec. 2007.
13. Ma, J., Dey, M., Yang, H., Poulev, A., Pouleva, R., Dorn, R., Lipsky, P., Kenelly, E. J., and Raskin, I. (2007) Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive compounds from Tripterygium wilfordii. Phytochemistry, Vol. 68, No. 8, 1172-1178.
14. Christopher Okunji, Slavko Komarnytsky, Georgie Fear, Alexander Poulev, David M. Ribnicky, Peter I. Awachie, Yoichiro Ito, and Ilya Raskin. (2007) Preparative isolation and identification of tyrosinase inhibitors from the seeds of Garcinia kola by high-speed counter-current chromatography. J. of Chromatography A, Vol. 1151, No. 1-2, 45-50.
15. Schmidt, B. M., N. Ilić, A. Poulev, and I. Raskin. (2007) Toxicological evaluation of a chicory root extract. Food Chem. Tox., Vol. 45, No. 7, 1131-1139.
16. Ripoll, C., B. Schmidt, N. Ilić, A. Poulev, M. Dey, A. G. Kurmukov, and I. Raskin. (2007) Anti-inflammatory effects of a sesquiterpene lactone extract from chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) roots. Natural Product Communications, Vol. 2, No. 7, 717-722.
17. S. Logendra, D. M. Ribnicky, H. Yang, A. Poulev, J. Ma, E. J. Kennelly, and I. Raskin. Bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation of aldose reductase inhibitors from Artemisia dracunculus. Phytochemistry, Vol. 67, No. 14, 1539-1546, 2006.
18. Moreno, D. A., Ilić, N., Poulev, A., Raskin, I. Effects of Arachis hypogaea nutshell extract on lipid metabolic enzymes and obesity parameters. Life Sciences, 78, 2797-2803, 2006.
19. Moreno, D. A., Ripoll, C., Ilić, N., Poulev, A., Aubin, C., Raskin, I. Inhibition of lipid metabolic enzymes using Mangifera indica extracts. J. Food Agric. & Environ., Vol. 4(1): 21-26, 2006.
20. David M. Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Malcolm Watford, William T. Cefalu, and Ilya Raskin. Antihyperglycemic Activity of TARRALIN™, an Ethanolic Extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. Phytomedicine, Vol. 13, No. 8, 550-557, 2006. (Download article in pdf format.)
21. David M. Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Joseph O'Neal, Gary Wnorowski, Dolores E. Malek, Ralf Jäger, Ilya Raskin. Toxicological Evaluation of the Ethanolic Extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. for Use as a Dietary Supplement and in Functional Foods. Food and Chemical Toxicology, Vol. 42/4, pp 585-598, 2004. (Download in pdf-format.)
22. Diego A. Moreno, Nebojša Ilić, Alexander Poulev, Dawn L. Brasaemle, Susan K. Fried, Ilya Raskin. 2003. Inhibitory effects of grape seed extract on lipases. Nutrition, Vol. 19(10): 876 - 879. (Download in pdf-format.)
23. A. Poulev, J. M. O'Neal, S. Logendra, R. B. Pouleva, V. Timeva, A. S. Garvey, D. Gleba, I. S. Jenkins, B. T. Halpern, R. Kneer, G. M. Cragg, and I. Raskin. Elicitation, a new window into plant chemodiversity and phytochemical drug discovery. J. Med. Chem., Vol. 46, 2542 - 2547, 2003.
24. Ribnicky, D. M., A. Poulev, and I. Raskin. The determination of salicylates in Gaultheria procumbens for use as a natural Aspirin alternative. Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional and Medical Foods. Vol. 4, No. 1, 2003. (Download in pdf-format.)
25. Ilya Raskin, David M. Ribnicky, Slavko Komarnytsky, Nebojša Ilić, Alexander Poulev, Nikolai Borisjuk, Anita Brinker, Diego A. Moreno, Christophe Ripoll, Nir Yakoby, Joseph M. O'Neal, Teresa Cornwell, Ira Pastor and Bertold Fridlender. Plants and human health in the twenty-first century. Trends in Biotechnology, 2002, 20:12:522-531 (Download in pdf-format.)
26. Shen, Z.-W., U. Fisinger, A. Poulev, W. Eisenreich, I. Werner, E. Pleiner, A. Bacher, and M. H. Zenk. Tracer Studies With ¹³C- labeled Carbohydrates in Cultured Plant Cells. Retrobiosynthetic Analysis of Chelidonic Acid Biosynthesis. Phytochemistry, Vol. 57, No. 1, pp. 33 - 42, 2001. (Download in pdf-format.)
27. Ribnicky, D. M., A. Poulev, E. Henry, and I. Raskin. Seed of Barbarea verna as a Rich Source of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate to Provide Natural Protection from Environmental and Dietary Toxins. Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional and Medical Foods. Vol. 3, No. 3, 2001. (Download in pdf-format.)
28. Leizer, C., D. M. Ribnicky, A. Poulev, S. Dushenkov, and I. Raskin. The Composition of Hemp Seed Oil and its Potential as an Important Source of Nutrition. Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional and Medical Foods. Vol. 2, No. 4, 1999. (Download in pdf-format.)
29. Kneer, R., Poulev, A., Olesinski, A., and Raskin, I. Characterization of the Elicitor-induced Biosynthesis and Secretion of Genistein from Roots of Lupinus luteus L. Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 50, No. 339, pp. 1553-1559, 1999 (abstract, or full text in pdf-format).
30. Gleba, D., Borisjuk, N. V., Borisjuk, L. G., Kneer, R., Poulev, A., Skarzhinskaya, M., Dushenkov, S., Logendra, S., Gleba, Y. Y., and I. Raskin. Use of Plant Roots for Phytoremediation and Molecular Farming. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. Vol. 96, 11, 5973-5977, 1999.
31. Pandey, R. C., Yankov, L. K., Poulev, A., Nair, R., and Caccamese, S. Synthesis and Separation of Potential Anticancer Active Dihalocephalomannine Diastereomers from Extracts of Taxus yunnanensis. Journal of Natural Products, 61, 1, 57 - 63, 1998. (Download in pdf-format.)
32. Hylands, P. and A. Poulev. Immunostimulants: Maximizing the Health and Efficiency of Animals through Plant-Derived Biomolecules. In: Biotechnology in the Feed Industry 1994; Proceedings of Alltech's Tenth Annual Symposium. Eds: T. P. Lyons and K. A. Jacques. Nottingham University Press, (1995).
33. Poulev, A., E. Bombardelli, C. Ponzone and M. H. Zenk. Regioselective Bioconversion of Colchicine and Thiocolchicine into their corresponding 3-Demethyl-Derivatives. (Download article in pdf-format.) Journal of Fermentation and Bioengineering, 79, No. 1, 33 - 38, (1995).
34. Poulev, A., B. Deus-Neumann, E. Bombardelli and M. H. Zenk. Immunoassays for the Quantitative Determination of Colchicine. Planta Medica 60, 77 - 83, (1994).
35. Poulev, A., B. Deus - Neumann and M. H. Zenk. Enzymeimmunoassay for the Quantitative Determination of Galanthamine. Planta Medica 59, 442 - 446, (1993).
36. Tanahashi, T., A. Poulev and M. H. Zenk. Radioimmunoassay for the Quantitative Determination of Galanthamine. Planta Medica 56, 77 - 81, (1990).

P A T E N T S
Published Patents:	Patent Applications:
Ribnicky, D. M., A. Poulev, and I. Raskin. Methods of administering gaultherin-containing compositions. U.S. patent # 7,033,618, April 25, 2006. Ribnicky, D. M., A. Poulev, and I. Raskin. Plant Preparation Containing Phenethylisothiocyanate. Australian Patent No.: 779169, May 2005. Pandey, R., Yankov, L., Nair, R., and A. Poulev. Paclitaxel analogs, preparation and use as antitumor agents. Canadian Patent No.: CA 2210924, March 2004. Ribnicky, D. M., A. Poulev, and I. Raskin. Phenethylisothiocyanate Nutraceutical Compositions and Methods. U.S. patent # 6,348,220, February 19, 2002. Pandey, R. C., L. Yankov, A. Poulev, and R. Nair. Preparation of Chlorinated Paclitaxel Analogues and Use Thereof as Antitumor Agents. U.S. patent # 5,854,278, December 29, 1998. Pandey, R. C., L. Yankov, A. Poulev, and R. Nair. Preparation of Brominated Paclitaxel Analogues and Their Use as Effective Antitumor Agents. U.S. patent # 5,807,888, September 15, 1998.	Ribnicky, David M.; Logendra, Sithes; Poulev, Alexander; Cefalu, William T.; and Raskin, Ilya. Compounds from an extract of Artemisia and methods for treating disorders. U.S. patent application # 20070224301, 2007. Raskin, I., and A. Poulev. Elicited plant products. U.S. patent application #20020132021, 2002. Abandoned. Ribnicky, D. M., A. Poulev, and I. Raskin. Recovery of gaultherin from plants. U.S. patent application #20020031562, 2002.

Poster Presentations:

1. Eisenman, Sasha; Poulev, Alexander; Struwe, Lena; Raskin, Ilya. Phytochemical variation in North American populations of wild tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.). Joint Annual Meeting of the Mycological Society of America, American Bryological and Lichenological Society, American Fern Society, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, and Botanical Society of America, Botany & Mycology 2009, July 25 - 29, Snowbird, Utah, 2009.
2. Sithes Logendra, Lucas Chadwick, Nebojša Ilić, Samuel Pro, Alexander Poulev, Jun Ma, Hui Yang, Edward J. Kennelly and Ilya Raskin. Isolation and purification of [6]-paradol from Aframomum melegueta using Fast Centrifugal Partition Chromatography and High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Poster presentation at the 5^th international conference on Counter Current Chromatography in Rio-de-Janeiro, Brasil, July 24 - 29, 2008.
3. David Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Peter Kuhn, Sithes Logendra, Aamir Zuberi, William Cefalu, and Ilya Raskin. Bioavailability assessment of an extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. with antidiabetic activities in vitro and in vivo. Abstract for the 67^th Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, June 22 - 26, 2007, Chicago IL, USA.
4. Barbara M. Schmidt, Moul Dey, Alexander Poulev, Nebojša Ilić, and Ilya Raskin. Isolation and anti-inflammatory activity of the sesquiterpene lactone dihydrolactucopicrin. FASEB J. 21: 701.30, 2007.
5. Dmitry Govorko, Sithes Logendra, David M. Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Jun Ma, Hui Yang, Edward J. Kennelly, and Ilya Raskin. Bioactivity-guided isolation of anti-diabetic compounds from an extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. using a novel PEPCK gene expression assay. Abstract for the 66^th Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, June 9 - 13, 2006, Washington DC, USA.
6. Sithes Logendra, David M. Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Jun Ma, Hui Yang, Edward J. Kennelly, and Ilya Raskin. Isolation of novel inhibitors of human aldose reductase activity from an anti-diabetic extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. Abstract for the 66^th Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, June 9 - 13, 2006, Washington DC, USA.
7. Zhong Q. Wang, David M. Ribnicky, Sithes Logendra, Alexander Poulev, Jun Ma, Hui Yang, Edward J. Kennelly, Ilya Raskin, and William T. Cefalu. Bioactives from an extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. exhibit potent inhibitory activities for PTP-1B in human skeletal muscle culture. Abstract for the 66^th Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, June 9 - 13, 2006, Washington DC, USA.
8. David M. Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Sithes Logendra, William T. Cefalu, Zhong Wang, and Ilya Raskin. The development of an extract of Artemisia dracunculus for decreasing the insulin resistance associated with diabetes, from concept to clinic. Gordon Research Conference on Agricultural Sciences "Adding more value to production agriculture", February 13 - 18, 2005, Ventura, California, USA. (Download poster in pdf-format).
9. David M. Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Malcolm Watford, Ilya Raskin, Zhong Q. Wang. New Brunswick, NJ; Baton Rouge, LA. The Effect of Tarralin™, an Extract of Artemisia dracunculus L., on Blood Glucose Parameters in Diabetic Animal Models. Abstract for the 64^th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. June 4 - 8, 2004, Orlando, Florida, USA. (Download poster in pdf-format).
10. Anita M. Brinker, Alexander Poulev, and Ilya Raskin. Improving the quality and uniformity of botanical drugs: Tripterygium wilfordii, a promising arthritis treatment. (Download poster in pdf-format). Abstract for the University/Industry Workshop Advances in Therapeutic Agents Discovery & Development. January 29, 2002, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.

11. David M. Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, and Ilya Raskin. Development of PMI-5001, a Natural Salicylate from Gaultheria procumbens L. for Cardiovascular Health. (Download poster in pdf-format). Abstract for the University/Industry Workshop Advances in Therapeutic Agents Discovery & Development. January 29, 2002, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.

12. David M. Ribnicky, Ilan Chet, Iris Yedidya, Miriam Abramsky, Dana Frisem, Alexander Poulev, and Ilya Raskin. Extracts of Gaultheria procumbens L. promote disease resistance in Cucumis sativus challenged with Pseudomonas syringae pv. Lachrymans. (Download poster in pdf-format). Abstract for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Biologists, July 21 - 25, 2001, Providence, RI, USA.

13. Yankov, L. K., A. Poulev, R. Misra and R. C. Pandey. "Fingerprinting and Quantitation of Bioactive Components in Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.) and Its Products Used As Nutraceuticals Using Improved HPLC Method and LC-MS". 41^st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pharmacognosy, July 22-26, 2000 Seattle, WA.
14. Ribnicky, D., A. Poulev, and I. Raskin. Determination of salicylates in Gaultheria procumbens by LC-MS and GC-MS. (Download poster in pdf-format). Abstract for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists, July 24 - 28, 1999, Baltimore, MD, USA.
15. Yankov, L., R. Nair, A. Poulev, A. Dutta, and R. Pandey. Novel Efficient Process for the Purification of Paclitaxel and Preparation of its Analogues with Anticancer Activity. The Monroe Wall Symposium 'Harnessing Biodiversity for Therapeutic Drugs and Foods: Developing Products for the 21^st Century'. June 2 - 5, 1996, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
16. Poulev, A., T. Tanahashi and M. H. Zenk. A Radioimmunoassay for the Cholinesterase Inhibitory Alkaloid Galanthamine. 37^th Annual Congress of the German Society of Medicinal Plant Research (Gesellschaft für Arzneipflanzenforschung). 1 - 5 September 1989, Braunschweig, Germany.
17. Spassova, M., A. Poulev and A. Atanassov. The Influence of Some Growth Regulators on Tissue Cultures of Solanaceous Medicinal Plants. IV. International Symposium of Plant Growth Regulators. Sept. 28 - 4 Oct. 1986, Pamporovo, Bulgaria.
18. Spassova, M., A. Poulev and A. Atanassov. Tissue Cultures of Medicinal Plants from Solanaceae. 4^th Symposium of the (former) Socialist Countries on Biotechnology. 26 - 30 May 1986, Varna, Bulgaria.