Plants are master chemists. From caffeine and nicotine to powerful drugs like colchicine, they manufacture an incredible array of molecules that defend against pests, attract pollinators, and sometimes even become lifesaving medicines for humans. But how exactly do plants build these complex compounds, and why do they make them in the first place?
This week, I sit down with Dr. Ryan Nett, Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University, to explore the fascinating world of plant biosynthesis. We talk about how plants orchestrate molecular “assembly lines” using specialized enzymes, why some of the most promising medicines are so difficult to source from nature, and how advances in genetics and synthetic biology are opening new doors to sustainable drug production.
Dr. Nett shares insights from his research on alkaloids such as huperzine A, investigated for Alzheimer’s disease, and colchicine, a historic treatment for gout and inflammation. We also discuss the grand challenges of plant chemistry, from deciphering massive genomes to engineering microbes like yeast to produce rare medicinal compounds.
If you’ve ever wondered how plants turn simple building blocks into some of the most valuable medicines on Earth, you won’t want to miss this conversation! Learn more at https://www.nett-lab.com/
#botany #medicinalplants #chemistry #science #biosynthesis
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Understanding Food Allergies with Dr. Sarita Patil
Food allergies affect millions of children and adults worldwide—and the numbers are rising. This week on the show, Dr. Quave speaks with Dr. Sarita Patil, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Co-Director of the MGH Food Allergy Center, to explore the science behind allergic reactions. They discuss the differences between food allergies and intolerances, the rise in childhood allergies, and how early exposure to allergenic foods can help prevent these conditions.
Dr. Patil shares insights from her latest research on peanut immunotherapy and the role of protective antibodies in reducing severe reactions. She also explains eosinophilic esophagitis, a chronic condition linked to food allergens that affects the esophagus. The conversation covers key topics such as the hygiene hypothesis, the influence of breastfeeding and the microbiome on food allergies, and the challenges of managing food allergies in the context of food insecurity.
Whether you are caring for someone with food allergies or interested in how the immune system interacts with our diet, this episode offers practical information and new perspectives on managing food-related health challenges.
#foodallergy #allergy #podcast #FoodiePharmacology #Peanuts
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42:33
Feed Us With Trees Nuts and Our Food Systems with Elspeth Hay
What if our future food security depended not on fields of grain, but on forests of trees? In this episode of Foodie Pharmacology, I sit down with Elspeth Hay, author of Feed Us with Trees: Nuts and the Future of Food and host of the Local Food Report on CAI NPR. Elspeth takes us on a journey through oak groves and chestnut stands to explore how nut-bearing trees once fed the world—and could again.
We unpack the ecological power of keystone species like oaks and the role of fire in maintaining these ancient foodscapes. Elspeth shares how acorns, hazelnuts, and chestnuts offer a compelling alternative to industrial crops—and how Indigenous foodways and land management practices hold the key to unlocking their full potential. From forgotten ancestral practices to the modern movement to rewild our diets and ecosystems, this episode is a hopeful call to reconnect with the trees that once sustained us. Learn more about Elspeth’s work at elspethhay.com and follow her on Instagram @elspethhay.
#TreeNuts #WildFoods #FoodiePharmacology #KeystoneSpecies #Rewilding #EdibleForests
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The Dark Matter of Nutrition with Dr. Giulia Menichetti
This week on the show, Dr. Quave speaks with Dr. Giulia Menichetti, a computational physicist at Harvard Medical School, about one of the most elusive frontiers in nutrition science: the “dark matter” of food. While most nutrition data is focused on a handful of known nutrients, Dr. Menichetti’s “Foodome” Project is charting the vast landscape of overlooked bioactive compounds hidden in everyday ingredients—and using artificial intelligence to unlock their therapeutic potential.
From network science and protein targets to AI-powered metabolomics and precision diets, this conversation uncovers how foods interact with our biology in ways we’re only beginning to understand. You’ll learn how ultra-processed foods disrupt this balance, why many food databases are incomplete, and how the future of personalized nutrition might be written not just in our genes—but in the chemical language of our meals.
🎧 Tune in to discover how food, evolution, and ecology converge in the search for a more intelligent approach to eating.
#Foodome #FoodiePharmacology #AI #PrecisionNutrition #NetworkMedicine #UltraProcessedFoods #NutritionScience
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48:55
Ethnobiology of Lake Titicaca with Dr. Daniel Villar
This week on the show, Dr. Quave speaks with conservation biologist Dr. Daniel Villar about the deep connections between culture, ecology, and traditional knowledge in the Central Andes. Their conversation centers on Lake Titicaca, one of the world’s highest navigable lakes, where Dr. Villar has studied how traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) shapes and responds to environmental change.
They discuss the many uses of the totora sedge—a plant once used to build floating islands, craft artisanal goods, and provide food for people and livestock—and how its management reflects centuries of indigenous governance and adaptation. Dr. Villar also shares his insights on the role of ethnobiology in conservation, the value of cultural diversity in protecting biodiversity, and how his research sheds light on climate resilience.
Don’t miss this fascinating look at the science of survival through the lens of cultural and ecological evolution.
#Ethnobiology #LakeTiticaca #TEK #BioculturalDiversity #FoodiePharmacology #Conservation #Andes #IndigenousKnowledge
Foodie Pharmacology is the science podcast for the food curious! Dr. Quave is co-creator and host of the show. She speaks with leading experts on certain crops, sustainable farming methods, medicinal plants, and explores the pharmacology--or health impact--of our food through weekly episodes! You can also tune in through subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Leave comments and ratings on episodes! Dr. Quave loves to hear from the #FoodiePharmacology fans!
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