Medina-Bolivar Laboratory

Harvesting a Healthy Future from Hairy Roots

Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State University

Welcome

In the Medina-Bolivar lab we use hairy roots as bioproduction systems to discover natural products with important applications in human health.
Hairy roots are “immortalized” plant tissue culture systems that reproduce the biosynthetic capacity of intact plants. Using a combination of molecular, cellular and biochemical approaches, our research team has developed strategies to increase the levels of selected natural products in hairy roots by more than 1,000 times when compared to the parental plant. This patented technology allows for the sustainable production of compounds that are being tested for different bioactivities including anticancer, antiviral and anti-obesity properties. These bioassays are performed in our lab or through collaborative projects with institutions across the United States. We have an active group of undegraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral associates and research assistants. Over the years, the Medina-Bolivar laboratory has received funding from state, federal and private sources.

To learn about Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar check his TEDx talk.

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What We Do

Research

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Teaching

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Publications & Patents

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Lab News

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Principal Investigator

Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, Ph.D.

Dr. Medina-Bolivar is native of Lima, Peru. He received his B.S. degree in Biology from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and title of Biologist for his research on plant tissue culture at the International Potato Center. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Plant Physiology from the Pennsylvania State University and as part of his dissertation conducted research with hairy root cultures to study the biosynthesis of natural products. He did postdoctoral research on plant-based production of recombinant proteins at Virginia Tech.

Lab News
July 24, 2023

Congratulations to our undergraduate research student Jacqueline Vargas Ulloa on receiving two prestigious awards!

January 20, 2022

Our manuscript describing the anticancer effects in triple-negative breast cancer cells of a compound from peanut was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Congratulations to the co-authors Sepideh Mohammadhosseinpour (First Author), Linh-Chi Ho, Lingling Fang, Dr. Jay Xu, and Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar.

December 9, 2021

Dr. Medina-Bolivar was inducted into the Arkansas Research Alliance in a ceremony held at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion.