Students will gain hands-on experience in the pharmaceutical development process as they discover innovative purification and formulation methods for plant-derived nutraceuticals.  Nutraceuticals, such as the polyphenolics resveratrol and quercitin, are plant-derived, biologically active compounds with potential for the prevention and treatment of several conditions, including cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  Already widely used as nutritional supplements, there is a need for the development of effective, stable formulations for delivering these poorly water-soluble, readily metabolized compounds to humans and animals.  In addition, the development of improved methods for the purification and recovery of these compounds from natural sources is an important challenge.  This includes the development of ‘green’, environmentally-friendly processes that minimize the use of organic solvents and other chemicals.  This project will provide the student with a multi-disciplinary understanding of the drug development process, including raw material purification, stability-indicating assay development, formulation of oral dosage forms, such as tablets and capsules, and dissolution and stability testing.