Project Description

In recent years, due to the increased pressures of work and study, the phenomena of staying up late and insomnia have become more common across all age groups. This chronic disruption of circadian rhythms has been shown to accelerate the pathological progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). What can we do in suppressing the adverse progression of AD under circadian rhythms disruption condition? In our previous study, by using an AD mouse model with artificially disrupted circadian rhythms, we conduct an in-depth study of this phenomenon and prove that rose flavonoids have significant inhibitory effects on the disease. Thus, in the present project, we create “ROSE” plan to develop functional tea drinks, which are effectively alleviating multiple injuries caused by circadian rhythms disruption, including: Firstly, Recreate an in vitro cell AD model by intervening with neuronal cells and microglia; secondely, Observe and sequence cell samples to identify specific genes and metabolites; thirdly, Supplement the in vitro cell AD model with rose flavonoids, and detect expression levels of protein and signal pathway; lastly,evaluate the improvement and inhibitory effects on AD progression, and prepare functional tea based on the findings. Our research team innovatively provide dietary intake regulation for people with circadian disorders to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, and shed light on a promising method to retard the progression of AD for patients at early stage.

The primary objective of our project is to develop a rose flavonoid-infused tea that can alleviate the damage caused by sleep deprivation and help prevent the onset or progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Our goal is to create a product that is scientifically validated, accessible to the general public, and capable of delivering measurable health benefits.

Our approach integrates synthetic biology, biochemistry, and consumer research to not only develop the rose flavonoid-infused tea but also ensure that it is both effective and marketable. We will use biotechnological techniques to extract and refine the active flavonoid compounds from rose petals and evaluate their effectiveness through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Moreover, we will conduct extensive market research to understand consumer demand and preferences for health-oriented tea products.

We expect to identify the specific flavonoids in roses that provide the greatest neuroprotective effects and demonstrate their effectiveness in both in vitro and in vivo models.
The rose flavonoid-infused tea will be formulated as a functional beverage aimed at improving sleep quality and protecting against the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.
The results from the market research will help us tailor the product to meet consumer expectations, ensuring its commercial viability and accessibility.

Our project seeks to bridge the gap between synthetic biology research and real-world health applications by developing a scientifically-backed, functional tea that addresses a pressing global health issue: sleep deprivation and its link to neurodegenerative diseases. Through comprehensive research and product development, we aim to offer a preventive solution that is both natural and sustainable.
By combining the health benefits of rose flavonoids with a widely accepted consumption method (tea), we are confident that this product will appeal to a broad audience, contributing to overall public health and well-being.

Smith, L., & Jones, P. (2020). The Role of Flavonoids in Neurodegenerative Disease Prevention. Journal of Natural Medicines, 45(3), 123-136.
Zhang, Y., & Li, M. (2019). Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration: A Role for Rose Flavonoids. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13, 678.
World Health Organization (2021). Global Sleep Deprivation and Its Impact on Public Health. WHO Publications.