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Cook College
 
Dave Ribnicky

  • I graduated with honors in botany from the University of Michigan in 1989. In my doctoral thesis on "The Role of Auxin in Carrot Embryogenesis", which was completed at the University of Maryland and at the USDA, I investigated basic mechanisms of plant totipotency.

  • I joined the laboratory of Ilya Raskin in 1996, focusing on the biosynthesis of salicylic acid and how some of its potential precursors may also be involved in the process of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in plants. Previous work in our lab showed that an important volatile metabolite of salicylic acid, methyl salicylate, acts as an airborne signal between plants (Shulaev et al., 1997). I showed that benzaldehyde is also produced and released as a volatile organic compound from tobacco and measured endogenous concentrations of benzaldehyde by GC-MS. Benzaldehyde treatment leads to increased concentrations of salicylic acid and PR protein mRNA and promotes increased resistance to TMV inoculation. Even though a great deal of work has been directed at the biosynthesis of salicylic acid, the conversion of cinnamic acid to benzoic acid has not yet been elucidated. Through stable isotope labeling experiments, I have shown that benzaldehyde is not the intermediate between cinnamic and benzoic acid and that alternate pathways of salicylic acid are likely to be active (Ribnicky et al, 1997).

  • Currently I am a research associate and the principal investigator for the development of novel nutraceuticals from plants. This is a fascinating research area that has allowed me to combine my expertise in plant growth regulation and defense response with the production of natural products that impart significant health benefit. Many plants contain nutraceutical compounds and the concentrations of these important chemicals can differ dramatically between different species. As a botanist by training, I believe that these compounds are not present in plants by chance. Rather, they represent the chemical means that a plant must utilize in order to survive in a hostile environment from which it cannot escape. With some knowledge of such biochemical pathways, it is possible to determine which species contain the richest concentrations of such compounds and to take advantage of the innate defense mechanisms of plants to promote elevated production of desirable products.

  • My work has involved optimizing the production of various nutraceutical products using these basic approaches. In addition, I have developed the necessary methods for the precise quantification of these compounds as well as appropriate protocols for their efficient extraction. Using this approach, I have developed a natural analgesic with aspirin-like characteristics that can be taken on a daily basis for cardiovascular health. This extract can also provide protection to other plants from various pathogens, demonstrating the role of these compounds in nature.

  • I have also developed a rich source of phenyl ethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), one of the beneficial compounds of cruciferous vegetables. The research conducted with PEITC suggests how its consumption provides protection from toxins in the environment such as the nitrosamines in food and tobacco products.

  • Additional projects are under development.

Publications:

  1. Burns Kraft, T. F., M. Dey, R. B. Rogers, D. M. Ribnicky, D. M. Gipp, W. T. Cefalu, I. Raskin, and M. A. Lila. Phytochemical composition and metabolite performance enhancing activity of dietary berries traditionally used by Native North Americans. J. of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 56(3): 654-660, 2008.

  2. Cefalu, W. T., J. Ye, A. Zuberi, D. M. Ribnicky, I. Raskin, Z. Liu, Z. Q. Wang, P. J. Brantley, L. Howard, and M. Lefevre. Botanicals and metabolic syndrome. Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, submitted, 2007.

  3. Ribnicky, D. M., A. Poulev, B. Schmidt, W. T. Cefalu, and I. Raskin. Evaluation of botanicals for improving human health. Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, submitted, 2007.

  4. Dmitry Govorko, Sithes Logendra, Yanxin Wang, Debora Esposito, David Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, William T. Cefalu, and Ilya Raskin. (2007) Polyphenolic Compounds from Artemisia dracunculus L. Inhibit PEPCK Gene Expression and Gluconeogenesis in an H4IIE Hepatoma Cell Line. AJP: Endocrinology and Metabolism, submitted.

  5. Barbara M. Schmidt, David M. Ribnicky, Peter E. Lipsky and Ilya Raskin. (2007) Revisiting the ancient concept of botanical therapeutics. Nature Chemical Biology, Vol. 3, No. 7, 360-366.

  6. Christopher Okunji, Slavko Komarnytsky, Georgie Fear, Alexander Poulev, David M. Ribnicky, Peter I. Awachie, Yoichiro Ito, and Ilya Raskin. 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, 2007.

  7. 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, 67, No. 14, 1539-1546, 2006.

  8. Ribnicky, D. M., A. Poulev, and I. Raskin. Methods of administering gaultherin-containing compositions. U.S. patent # 7,033,618, April 25, 2006.

  9. 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.

  10. Dey, M., Ribnicky, D., Kurmukov, A. G., and Ilya Raskin. Transcriptional modulation and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of a seed preparation containing phenethylisothiocyanate. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics; 317(1), 326-333, 2006.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. Ribnicky, D. M., and I. Raskin. Methods for Treating Disorders Using Plant Extracts. U. S. Patent application 20030072822; PCT Int. Appl., WO 03020026, 2003.

  14. 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

  15. Ribnicky, D. M., A. Poulev, and I. Raskin. Phenethylisothiocyanate Nutraceutical Compositions and Methods. U.S. patent # 6,348,220, February 19, 2002.

  16. David M. Ribnicky, W.-S. Hu, Jerry D. Cohen, and Todd J. Cooke (2002). An auxin surge following fertilization in carrot: a plausible mechanism for regulating plant totipotency. Planta 214: 505-509

  17. David M. Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Eve Henry, and Ilya Raskin (2001). 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: 3(3) 43-65

  18. Cary Leizer, David Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Slavik Dushenkov, and Ilya Raskin (2000). The composition of hemp seed oil and its potential as an important source of nutrition. Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional and Medical Foods: 2(4) 35-53

  19. David M. Ribnicky, Vladimir Shulaev, and Ilya Raskin (1998). Intermediates of salicylic acid biosynthesis in tobacco. Plant Physiol. 118: 565-572

  20. David M. Ribnicky, Jerry D. Cohen, and Todd J. Cooke (1998). Microscale analysis of free and conjugated indole-3-acetic acid in milligram amounts of plant tissue using a benchtop gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Planta 204: 1-7

  21. Michele Barker-Bridgers, David M. Ribnicky, Jerry Cohen and Alan M. Jones (1998). Red light-regulated growth. Changes in the abundance of indoleacetic acid in the maize (normal Zea mays L. mesocotyl). Planta 204: 207-211

  22. David M. Ribnicky, Nebojša Ilić, Jerry D. Cohen and Todd J. Cooke (1996). The effects of exogenous auxins on endogenous indole-3-acetic acid metabolism. Plant Physiol. 112: 549-558

  23. Jerry D. Cohen, Janet P. Slovin, Kristina Bialek, Ellen G. Sutter, Bruce G. Baldi, Lech Michalczuk, David M. Ribnicky, Yuen Yee Tam, and Todd J. Cooke (1992). Stable isotope techniques for the analysis of indole auxin metabolism in normal and mutant plants. In: C.M. Karssen, L.C. Van Loon, and D. Vreugdenhil, eds, Progess in Plant Growth Regulation, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 859 - 873

  24. Lech Michalczuk, David M Ribnicky, Todd J. Cooke, and Jerry D. Cohen (1992). Regulation of indole-3-acetic acid biosynthetic pathways in carrot cell cultures. Plant Physiol. 100: 1346-1353

Abstracts:

  1. 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 67th Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, June 22 - 26, 2007, Chicago IL, USA.

  2. 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 66th Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, June 9 - 13, 2006, Washington DC, USA.

  3. 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 66th Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, June 9 - 13, 2006, Washington DC, USA.

  4. 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 66th Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, June 9 - 13, 2006, Washington DC, USA.

  5. Dubuisson, O. S., Macgowan, J., Ribnicky, D. M., Raskin, I., Cefalu, W. T., Zuberi, A. Hypoglycemic and hypoinsulinemic effects of a dietary supplement, Artemisia dracunculus (Russian Tarragon), in obese and diabetic mice. Publication-only abstract for the 66th Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, June 9 - 13, 2006, Washington DC, USA.

  6. Lefevre, M., Wang, Z. Q., Ribnicky, D. M., Raskin, I., Zhang, X. H., Hulver, M., Civitarese, A., Ye, J., Cefalu, W. T. Use of hierarchical cluster analysis to prioritize secondary screening of bioactive botanicals for treatment of insulin resistance. Publication-only abstract for the 66th Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, June 9 - 13, 2006, Washington DC, USA.

  7. 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.

  8. Zhong Wang, Xian M. Zhang, David M. Ribnicky, William Cefalu. Burlington, VT; New Brunswick, NJ; Baton Rouge, LA. Effect of a Alcoholic Extract of Artemisia dracunculus (Tarralin™) on Glucose Uptake in Human Skeletal Muscle Culture. Abstract for the 64th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. June 4 - 8, 2004, Orlando, Florida, USA.

  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 64th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. June 4 - 8, 2004, Orlando, Florida, USA.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. David M. Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, and Ilya Raskin(1999). Determination of salicylates in Gaultheria procumbens using LC-MS and GC-MS. Abstract for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists.

  13. David M. Ribnicky, Vladimir Shulaev, and Ilya Raskin (1997). Benzaldehyde as an intermediate in salicylic acid biosynthesis in tobacco. Abstract for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists.

  14. David M. Ribnicky, Jerry D. Cohen, and Todd J. Cooke (1996). The role of auxin in carrot zygotic embryogenesis. Abstract for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists.

  15. Michele Barker-Bridgers, Alan M. Jones, David M. Ribnicky, Terri L. Lomax, and Jerry D. Cohen (1996). The diageotropica phenotype - is it a result of auxin conjugation? Abstract for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists.

  16. David M. Ribnicky, Jerry D. Cohen, and Todd J. Cooke (1995). Microscale analysis of free and conjugated IAA by GC-MS-SIM. Abstract for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists.

  17. David M. Ribnicky, Jerry D. Cohen, and Todd J. Cooke (1995). A microtechnique for the analysis of free and conjugated IAA by GC-MS-SIM. Abstract for 15th International Conference on Plant Growth Substances.

  18. Michele Barker-Bridgers, Alan M. Jones, David M. Ribnicky, and Jerry D. Cohen (1995). Red light causes auxin to decrease preferentially within the epidermis of the maize mesocotyl. Abstract for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists.

  19. Jerry D. Cohen, Janet P. Slovin, David M. Ribnicky, Carol Auer, Gary A. Kuleck, Yuen Yee Tam, and Todd J. Cooke (1994). Hormone metabolism during plant regeneration from culture. Research on Plant Growth Substances (a post-lBC symposium on plant hormones), Univ. of Tokyo, Japan; Abstract pp. 5-6.

  20. David M. Ribnicky, Jerry D. Cohen, and Todd J. Cooke (1993). Control of auxin metabolism in relation to carrot somatic embryogenesis. Abstract for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists

  21. David M. Ribnicky, Lech Michalczuk, Jerry D. Cohen, and Todd J. Cooke (1992). Auxin metabolism of carrot somatic embryogenesis. Abstract for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists

  22. David M. Ribnicky, Lech Michalczuk, Jerry D. Cohen, and Todd J. Cooke (1991). Auxin relationships during carrot somatic embryogenesis. Abstract for the 14th International Conference on Plant Growth Substances