Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Charle Dunlop School of Biological Sciences

Director, The UCI Center for Healthspan Sciences
Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences

Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice
School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Healthspan Pharmacology, Dietary Supplements Safety, Preventive Medicine, Scientific Wellness

Jafari Laboratory

Pharmaceutical Sciences Home Page

Center for Healthspan Sciences

Throughout my 30-year career, I have conducted basic, translational, educational, and clinical research across academic and pharmaceutical industry settings. My research initially focused on cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuropsychiatric pharmaceutical clinical trials until 2005. After my recruitment back to UC to develop and launch the B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, I pivoted my research towards aging, lifespan, and healthspan, employing human cultured cells and fruit flies as primary models. I coined the term "Healthspan Pharmacology" in 2015, aiming to decelerate aging using natural products.
My lab has pioneered an algorithm for screening, identifying, and elucidating the mechanisms of potential anti-aging compounds, including natural products and dietary supplements, with Drosophila melanogaster serving as the central model. Since 2005, we have discovered five natural products that significantly extend lifespan and enhance healthspan in flies—Rhodiola rosea, Rosa damascena, curcumin, cinnamon, and Angelica keiskei. Expanding our research in 2018 to include mouse models, we have explored the effects of Rhodiola rosea on health biomarkers and its impact on the microbiomes of flies and mice, aiming to bridge the understanding of microbiome, aging, and health, with the ultimate goal of testing these compounds on human health biomarkers.
Beyond laboratory research, I have a keen interest in educational and survey research, specifically on the impact of teaching scientific wellness on students’ health and the impact of teaching spirituality and belief systems on healthcare outcomes. I developed the Life101: Mental and Physical Self-Care course in 2012, monitoring its immediate and long-term effects on student well-being through longitudinal studies. The course, enhanced by an ILTI grant from the UC Office of the President in 2019, is now available across all 10 UC campuses and as a MOOC on Coursera (ww.coursera.org), titled "Life101: Mental and Physical Self-Care," attracting over 17,000 learners and high acclaim by May 2024.
Recently, I have broadened my research to include two clinical studies—"A Prospective Analysis of Minerals in Hair and Blood Samples" and "The Impact of Personality on Adherence to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia"—and a collaborative team Citizen Science project, "The Impact of Nature Wellness Stations on the Mental Health of Students," reflecting my commitment to integrating diverse research approaches to improve health and well-being.

Summary of Past and Present Research Areas
Pharmaceutical Industry: Abbott Laboratories
• Data mining studies using large clinical trials data bases
• Identifying cholesterol lowering properties with Depakote (Divalproex Sodium)
• Managing a team of scientists
• Managing investigator-initiated studies
• Developing work-life balance programs for scientists at Abbott.

Healthspan Pharmacology
• Identification of botanical extracts and their putative active compounds that increase lifespan and improve healthspan
• Evaluation of the mechanism of action of botanical extracts on potential pathways of aging (nutrient signaling pathways such as sirtuins and insulin signaling, mitochondrial bioenergetics, autophagy, microbiome)
• Evaluation of the impact of natural products in Drosophila models of human diseases such as aging, Huntington Disease, and Alzheimer’s Disease
• Evaluation of the impact of botanical extracts on the microbiome of Drosophila and mice
Phenomics and Natural Products and Drug Analytics
• Optimization of functional assays for high throughput screening to evaluate the impact of natural products and pharmaceuticals on phenomics
• Optimization of ARC, a high throughput platform, to evaluate drug induced behavioral phenomics in fruit flies.
Monitoring Dietary Supplements Safety and Efficacy
• Evaluation of the adverse effects of dietary supplements using animal models (fruit flies and mice).
• Comparison of various tests (hair and blood) to monitor the safety and efficacy of dietary supplement
Educational Research
• Development and evaluation of courses with a focus on the impact of spirituality and belief systems on patient care
• Evaluation of the impact of Life101 course on students’ stress and well-being.
• Evaluation of teaching online self-care courses on PharmD students’ well-being.
Community Based Research
• Evaluation of point-of-care diagnostics in the management of dyslipidemia and hypertension
• Evaluation and optimization of Rhodiola rosea harvests from farming in Alaska
Clinical Research
• Abbott Laboratories:
As a senior research scientist: Developed and executed clinical trials on the safety of Depakote (divalproex sodium) ER and Zemplar (paricalcitol, a synthetic vitamin D analogue). Developed and conducted data mining studies.
As a regional scientific manager: Oversaw and managed the budget for the investigator-initiated studies for the Metabolic Unit on the West Coast. Served as a liaison between thought leaders and scientists in academia and scientists and regulatory affairs at Abbott Laboratories.
• Academic Institutions (UCSF and UCI):
Safety and efficacy of dietary supplements
Validation of tests (hair, blood, etc.) to evaluate mineral and vitamins deficiencies and excess.
The Impact of Personality on Adherence to Tyrosine kinase inhibitor Therapy in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
The Impact of Nature Wellness Stations on the Mental Health of Students (Citizen Science)

1997 Honorable Mention for Innovation in Teaching, American Council on Pharmacy Education
2007-2008 UCI Distinguished Assistant Professor Award for Teaching
2008 “20 Women to Watch in Orange County”, OC Metro Business Magazine
2008 UCI Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Fostering Undergraduate Research
2011 UCI Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine “Discovery Award”
2011 UCI Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences “Overall Outstanding Professor Award”
2012-13 UCI Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences “Most Inspiring Professor” Award
2013 The FDA Collaboration Award for the FDA/UCI Internship Program
2014 UCI Anthology Yearbook Class of 2014 Most Inspiring Health Sciences
Professor Award
2013-2014 UCI Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences “Most Inspiring Professor” Award
2013-2014 UCI Distinguished Professor Award for Teaching
2018 UCSF Campaign Dedicated Alumni Award
2021 Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award (The Truth About Dietary Supplements)
2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Award (The Truth About Dietary Supplements)
2022 Southern California Book Festival, Runner Up in the How-To (The Truth About Dietary Supplements)
2022 Silver Literary Titan Award (The Truth About Dietary Supplements)
2022 Readers View. Readers’ Choice Award. Silver Book Award (The Truth About Dietary Supplements)
2022 Faculty of the Fall Quarter, UCI School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PharmD class of 2025
2022 Fellow, UCI Faculty Academy for Teaching Excellence (FATE)
2023 The UCI Paul Silverman Sciences and Ethics Award
2023 UCI Womxn’s Social Justice Activist Award
2024 The UCI Carol Connor Equity Advisor Impact Award

Dr. Mahtab Jafari is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Director of the UCI Center for Healthspan Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
With over 30 years of experience in basic, translational, clinical, and educational research, her work focuses on Healthspan Pharmacology and Evidence-Based Wellness. Her current research explores the impact of botanicals on healthspan by using using fruit flies and mice as primary model systems. She also leads studies on the effectiveness of wellness and self-care courses on college students' mental and physical health, the impact of Nature Therapy on mental health, the quality of dietary supplements marketed in the U.S., and clinical research comparing mineral levels through hair and blood samples.
A passionate educator and advocate for healthy living, Dr. Jafari is committed to empowering the public with evidence-based information to enhance longevity and quality of life. She is the author of the award-winning book The Truth About Dietary Supplements: An Evidence-Based Guide to a Safer Medicine Cabinet, and is a Master and Nationally Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach.

Authored Book

Mahtab Jafari. The Truth About Dietary Supplements: An Evidence-Based Guide to a Safe Medicine Cabinet. Archangel Inc. Amazon, 2021. https://www.supplements-truth.com/

Authored Book Chapters

1) Workbook for Textbook of Therapeutics: Drug and Disease Management, 6th Edition. ET Herfindal, DA Gourley (eds.) Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore (1996).
2) Preventive Cardiology. 2nd Edition. Part V, Chapter 25: Establishing a Preventive Cardiology Program. McGraw-Hill 2005.
3) Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate. Chapter 4: Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research, 2007, University of California Press, Berkeley Los Angeles London
4) Cosmeceuticals and Active Cosmetics, Chapter 7: The Impact of Rhodiola rosea on Skin, 3rd edition. 2015. In press.
5) Women Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan. Chapter 12: Women and Herbal Medicine. Wolters Kluwer Health, 2015 1st Edition.
6) How Sciences Engage with Ethics and Why It Should. Chapter 7: Pseudoscience in Our Daily Lives: The Status of Science Behind Dietary Supplements. De Gruyter Publishing. 2024.

Peer Reviewed Publications (*corresponding author)

1) Jafari M*, Toy P. Effects and Cost of Subcutaneous Human Erythropoietin in Preoperative Patients. Orthopedics 1997;20(12):1159-1165. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.3928/0147-7447-19971201-10.
2) Rosenberg H, Coffman R, Jafari M, Prabhu S, Tallian K. New Approaches to Teaching Basic Science Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Block System of Curricular Design. American Journal of Pharmacy Education 1998;(62):76-82.
3) Jafari M*, Scheinman MM. Adverse Effects of Amiodarone. Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology 1998;21(I):1-13. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-8159.1998.tb01068.x
4) Patel R, Gray D, Pierce R, Jafari M*. Impact of Therapeutic Interchange from Pravastatin to Lovastatin in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The American Journal of Managed Care 1999;5(4):465-474.
5) Jafari M*. Teaching Pharmacy Students the Relevance of Spirituality in Patient Care. Journal of Pharmacy Teaching 1999;7(2):7-14. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.3109/J060v07n02_03
6) Dina R, Jafari M*. Angiotensin II-Receptor Antagonists: An Overview. American Journal of Health System Pharmacists 2000;57:1231-1241. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/57.13.1231
7) Drmanac S, Heilborn D, Pullinger CR, Jafari M, Gretzen D, Ukrainczyk T, Cho MH, Frost PH, Siradez K, Drmanac R, Kane JP, Malloy MJ. Elevated Baseline Triglyceride Levels Modulate Effects of HMGCoA Reductase Inhibitors on Plasma Lipoproteins. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2001;6(1):47-56. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1177/107424840100600106
8) Jafari M*, Masih M, Emerson J. The Value of Pharmacist Involvement in Point-of-Care Service, Walk-in Lipid Screening Program. Pharmacotherapy 2001;21(11):1403-1406. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1592/phco.21.17.1403.34416
9) Baghkhani L, Jafari M*. Cardiovascular Adverse Reactions Associated with Guarana: Is there a Causal Effect? Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy 2002;2(1):57-61. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1080/J157v02n01_08
10) Emerson J, Jafari M*. Dyslipidemia Prevalence in a Laboratory Initiated Screening Program. Clinical Laboratory Science 2002;15(2):67-71. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.29074/ascls.15.2.67
11) Jafari M*, Leaf DA, MacRae H, Kasem J, O’Conner P, Pullinger C, Malloy M, Kane JP. The Effects of Physical Exercise on Plasma Prebeta-1 High-Density Lipoprotein. Metabolism 2003;4(62):437-442. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1053/meta.2003.50086
12) Jafari M*, Ebrahimi R, Balian H, Ahmadi M, Bashir M. Efficacy of Alternate-Day Dosing versus Daily Dosing of Atorvastatin. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2003;8(2):123-126. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1177/107424840300800205
13) Bussel I, Afsarpour N, Jafari M*, Rose MR*. Incidence of ovarian abnormalities in Drosophila melanogaster. Drosophila Information Service Journal 2005;88:19-20.
14) Green, MW, Giordano S, Jiang P, Jafari M, Smith TB. Effect of Divalproex on Metabolic Parameters is Dose Related in Migraine Prophylaxis. Headache 2005;45:1031-1037. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05184.x
15) Jafari M*, Rose MR. Rules for the Use of Model Organisms in Anti-Aging Pharmacology. Aging Cell 2006;5:17-22. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.14749726.2006.00195.x
16) Jafari M* Long AD, Mueller LD, Rose MR. Pharmacology of aging in Drosophila. Current Drug Targets. 2006;7:1479-1483. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.2174/1389450110607011479
17) Mathieu C, Jafari M*. Immunomodulation by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: Therapeutic implications in autoimmunity and transplantation. Clinical Nephrology 2006;66(4):275-283. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.5414/cnp66275
18) Jafari M*, Khodayari B, Felgner J, Bussel II, Rose MR, Mueller LD. Pioglitazone: An Anti-Diabetic Compound with Anti-Aging Properties. Biogerontology 2007;8:639-651. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-007-9105-7
19) Jafari M*, Felgner J, Khodayari B, Hutchili A, Bussel II, Vince-Cruz C, Rose MR, Mueller LD. 2007 Rhodiola: A Promising Anti-Aging Chinese Herb. Rejuvenation Research 2007;10(4):1-16. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1089/rej.2007.0560
20) Sepulveda S, Shojaeian P, Rauser CL, Jafari M, Mueller LD, Rose MR. Interactions between Injury, Stress, and Aging in Drosophila melanogaster. Experimental Gerontology 2008;43(3):136-45. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2007.10.006
21) Jafari M*, Zarban A, Chang S, Wang T. Rosa damascena decreases mortality in adult Drosophila. Journal of Medicinal Foods 2008;11(1):9-13. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2007.546
22) Bussel I, Joseph M, Lewis V, Jafari M* Caffeine supplementation increases mortality in female Drosophila melanogaster without reproductive or metabolic impairment. Drosophila Information Service 2008;91:4-6.
23) Avanesian A, Khodayari B, Felgner JS, Jafari M*. Lamotrigine Extends Lifespan but Compromises Healthspan in Drosophila melanogaster. Biogerontology 2009;11(1): 45-52. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-009-9227-1
24) Schriner SE, Avanesian A, Liu Y, Luesch H, Jafari M*. Protection of human cultured cells against oxidative stress by Rhodiola rosea without activation of antioxidant defenses. Free Radical Biology Medicine 2009;47:577-584. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2009.05.025
25) Schriner SE, Abrahamyan A, Avanesian A, Bussel I, Gazarian M, Holmbeck MA, Jafari M*. Decreased mitochondrial superoxide levels and enhanced protection against paraquat in Drosophila melanogaster supplemented with Rhodiola rosea. Free Radical Research 2009;43(9):836-843. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1080/10715760903089724
26) Avanesian A, Semnani, Jafari M*. Can Drosophila melanogaster Represent a Model System for the Detection of Reproductive Adverse Drug Reactions? Drug Discovery Today 2009;14(15/16):761-766. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2009.05.010
27) Jafari M*. Drosophila melanogaster as a Model System for Evaluating Anti-aging Compounds. FLY 2010;4(3):1-5. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.4161/fly.4.3.11997
28) Lee K-S, Lee B-S, Semnani S, Avanesian A, Um S-Y, Jeon H-J, Yu K, Min K-J*, Jafari M* (*equal contribution by these corresponding authors). Curcumin Extends Lifespan, Improves Heal Span, and Modulate Aging Related Genes in Drosophila Melanogaster. Rejuvenation Research 2010;13(5): 1-10. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1089/rej.2010.1031
29) Liu Z, Li X, Simoneau AR, Jafari M, Zi X. Rhodiola rosea extracts and salidroside decrease the growth of bladder cancer cell lines via inhibition of the mTOR pathway and induction of autophagy. Molecular Carcinogenesis 2012;51(3):257-267. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1002/mc.20780
30) Schriner SE, Katoozi NS, Pham KQ, Garzarian M, Zarban A, Jafari M*. Extension of Drosophila lifespan by Rosa damascena associated with an increased sensitivity to heat. Biogerontology 2012;13(2):105-117. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-011-9357-0
31) Kislukhin G, Murphy ML, Jafari M, Long AD. Chemotherapy-induced toxicity is highly heritable in Drosophila melanogaster. Pharmacogenetics and Genomics. 2012;22(4):285-289. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1097/FPC.0b013e3283514395
32) Nabavi SF, Habtemariam S, Jafari M, Sureda A, Nabavi SM. 2012. Protective Role of Gallic Acid on Sodium Fluoride-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Brain. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 2012;89(1):73-77. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0645-4
33) Nabavi SF, Nabavi SM, Habtemariam S, Sureda A, Jafari M, Abolhasani F, Moghaddam AH. Hepatoprotective effect of gallic acid isolated from Peltiphyllum peltatum against sodium fluoride-induced oxidative stress. Industrial Crops and Products 2013;44:50-55. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.10.024
34) Gospodaryov DV, Yurkevych IS, Jafari M, Lushchak VI, Lushchak OV. Lifespan extension and delay of age-related functional decline caused by Rhodiola rosea depends on dietary macronutrient balance. Longevity & Healthspan 2013;2(1):5. doi: 10.1186/2046-2395-2-5. PubMed PMID: 24472572; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3922952.
35) Schriner SE, Lee K, Truong S, Salvadora KT, Maler S, Nam A, Lee T, Jafari M*. Extension of Drosophila lifespan by Rhodiola rosea through a mechanism independent from dietary restriction. PLoS ONE 2013;8(5):e63886. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063886
36) Lopez T, Schriner SE, Okoro M, Lu D, Chiang BT, Huey J, Jafari M*. Green Tea Polyphenols Extend the Lifespan of Male Drosophila melanogaster While Impairing Reproductive Fitness. Journal of Medicinal Food 2014;17(12):1314-1321. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2013.0190
37) Schriner SE, Kuramada S, Lopez TE, Truong S, Pham A, Jafari M*. Extension of Drosophila lifespan by cinnamon through a sex-specific dependence on the insulin receptor substrate chico. Experimental Gerontology 2014;60:220-230. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2014.09.019
38) Kil Y-S, Choi S-K, Lee Y-S, Jafari M, Seo E-K. Chalcones from Angelica keiskei: Evaluation of Their Heat Shock Protein Inducing Activities. Journal of Natural Products 2015;78:2481-2487. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00633
39) Jafari M*. Healthspan Pharmacology. Rejuvenation Research 2015;18(6):573-80. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1089/rej.2015.1774
40) Lopez TE, Pham HM, Barbour J, Tran P, Hogan SP, Van Nguyen B,. Homo RL, Coskun V, Schriner SE, Jafari M*. The impact of green tea polyphenols on development and reproduction of Drosophila melanogaster. Journal of Functional Foods 2016;20:556–566. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2015.11.002
41) Schriner SE, Coskun V, Hogan SP, Lopez TE, Jafari M*. Extension of Drosophila lifespan by Rhodiola rosea Depends on Dietary Carbohydrate and Caloric Content in a Simplified Diet. Journal of Medicinal Food 2016;19(3):318–323. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2015.0105
42) Lopez TE, Pham HM, Tahmasian Y, Nguyen BV, Ramsden S, Coskun V, Schriner SE, Jafari M*. Green Tea Polyphenols Require the Mitochondrial Iron Transporter, mitoferrin, for Lifespan Extension in Drosophila melanogaster. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 2016;93(4):210-221. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1002/arch.21353

43) Kil YS, Park J, Jafari M*, Woo HA, Seo EK. Minor phenolics from Angelica keiskei and their proliferative effects on Hep3B cells. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2017;27(14):3065-3070. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.05.054. Epub 2017 May 18. PubMed PMID: 28571822.
44) Kil YS, Pham ST, Seo EK, Jafari M*. Angelica keiskei, an emerging medicinal herb with various bioactive constituents and biological activities. Archives of Pharmacal Research 2017;40(6):655-675. doi: 10.1007/s12272-017-0892-3. Epub 2017 Apr 24. Review. PubMed PMID: 28439780; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7090720.
45) Jafari M*. A Unique Degree Program for Pre-Pharmacy Education: An Undergraduate Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning 2018;10(2):243-251. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2017.10.004
46) Jafari M*. Life 101 Enhances Healthy Lifestyle Choices in Undergraduate Students. 2017. Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice 2017;14(3):1-17. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.53761/1.14.3.4
47) Labachyan KE, Kiani D, Sevrioukov EA, Schriner SE, Jafari M*. The impact of Rhodiola rosea on the gut microbial community of Drosophila melanogaster. Gut Pathogens 2018;10(12):1-10. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-018-0239-8.
48) Arabit JGJ, Elhaj R, Schriner SE, Sevrioukov Y, Jafari M*. Rhodiola rosea Improves Lifespan, Locomotion, and Neurodegeneration in a Drosophila melanogaster Model of Huntington’s Disease. BioMed Research International 2018 (Special issue: Drosophila Models of Human Disease). Volume 2018: Article ID 6726874. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6726874
49) Pham HM, Xu A, Schriner SE, Sevrioukov EA, Jafari M*. Cinnamaldehyde Improves Lifespan and Healthspan in Drosophila melanogaster models for Alzheimer’s Disease. 2018 BioMed Research International 2018 (Special issue: Drosophila Models of Human Disease). Volume 2018: Article ID 3570830. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3570830.
50) Sorkin B, Kuszak A, Bloss G, Fukagawa N, Jafari M, Walters M, Barrett B, Bushman F, Casper S, Chilton F, Coffey C, Ferruzzi M, Hopp C, Kiely M, Lakens D, MacMillan J, Meltzer D, Paul J, Pritchett-Corning K, Quinney S, Ross S, Seifried H, Setchell K, Sipes N, Stephens J, Taylor L, Tiriac H, Xi D, Hoffman FA, Pauli G. (Office of Dietary Supplement NIH Working Group). Improving Natural Product Research Translation: from Source to Clinical Trial. The FASEB Journal 2020;34:41-65. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.201902143R
51) Langeder J, Grienke U, Döring K, Jafari M, Ehrhardt C, Schmidtke M, Rollinger JM.. High-Performance Counter-Current Chromatography to access Rhodiola rosea influenza virus inhibiting constituents. Planta Medica 2021;87:818-826. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1228-8473.
52) Rutledge GA, Phang HJ, Le MN, Bui L, Rose MR, Mueller LD, Jafari M. Diet and Botanical Supplementation: Combination Therapy for Healthspan Improvement? Rejuvenation Research 2021;24(5):331-344. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1089/rej.2020.2361
53) Jafari M*, De Roche M, Eshaghi MR. COVID-19, Stress and Mental Health: What Our Students Expect From Academic Institutions During a Pandemic. Journal of American College Health 2021; Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1951740
54) Mohammadi MR, Rodriguez SM, Luong JC, Li S, Cao R, Alshetaiwi H, Lau H, Davtyan H, Blurton Jones M, Jafari M, Kessenbrock K, Villalta A, de Vos P, Zhao W, Lakey JRT. Exosome loaded immunomodulatory biomaterials alleviate local immune response in immunocompetent diabetic mice post islet xenotransplantation. Communications Biology 2021;3;4(1):685. Published Online: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02229-4
55) Sorkin BC, Murch SJ, Weaver CM, Jafari M. Editorial: Plant Foods and Dietary Supplements: Building Solid Foundations for Clinical Trials. Frontiers in Nutrition 2022;9:881688. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.881688
56) Jafari M*, Arabit JGJ, Courville R, Kiani D, Chaston J, Nguyen CD, Jena N, Zhong-Ying , Tata P, Van Etten RA. The impact of Rhodiola rosea on biomarkers of diabetes and inflammation and the gut microbiota in a leptin receptor-knockout mouse model. Scientific Reports 2022;12(1):10581. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14241-7
57) Mahtab Jafari*, Samuel E. Schriner, Yun-Seo Kil, Sally T. Pham, and Eun Kyoung Seo. Angelica keiskei Impacts the Lifespan and Healthspan of Drosophila melanogaster in a Sex and Strain-Dependent Manner. Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(5), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16050738
58) Mahtab Jafari* and Parya Saberi. Scientific Awakening: Violation of Human Rights of Academic Scholars and Healthcare Professionals in Iran. Health and Human Rights Journal. 2023. Viewpoint, May 18, 2023
https://www.hhrjournal.org/2023/05/scientific-awakening-violation-of-human-rights-of-academic-scholars-and-healthcare-professionals-in-iran/
59) Jafari M*. Can an online course, Life101: Mental and Physical Self-Care, improve the wellbeing of college students? (10): 2024. JMIR Education. DOI: 10.2196/50111
https://mededu.jmir.org/2024/1/e50111
60) Jafari M*, Shahverdian S, Sadigh G, and Van Etten Ra. The Impact of Patient Personality on Adherence to Oral Anti-Cancer Medications: An Opportunity? JMIR Cancer. 2024;10:e57199
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382746951_Impact_of_Patient_Personality_on_Adherence_to_Oral_Anti-Cancer_Medications_An_Opportunity_Preprint
61) Alex Shahverdian and Mahtab Jafari*. Dietary Supplement Safety in Older Individuals: A Review of Published Case Reports. Senior Care Pharmacist. 2025; 40:32-49.
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/ascp/tscp/2025/00000040/00000001/art00005
62) Alex Shahverdian MS, PharmD, Simin Torabzadeh MD, David Watts PhD, Steffen Porwollik PhD, Monica Padilla PharmD, Jeong Su Lee PharmD, Gabriella Perez PharmD, and Mahtab Jafari* PharmD. Comparison of Mineral Levels in Blood and Hair Samples of Healthy Adults: Evaluating the Clinical Utility of Hair Mineral Analysis. Biological Trace Elements. 2025. In press.

National Institute of Healthcare Research/Templeton Foundation | 1998-2000 | Educational Grants in Spirituality and Medicine. | Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA | Role: Principal Investigator

National Institute of Healthcare Research/Templeton Foundation | 2000-2002 | Educational Grants in Spirituality and Medicine | University of California, Irvine | Role: Co-Principal Investigator

R01 GM085251-01 (NIH) | 3/01/2009 - 2/28/2013 | Drosophila as a Model for Chemotherapy Pharmacogenomics | Role: Co-investigator, University of California, Irvine (PI: Anthony Long)

AG-NS-0495-08 Ellison Medical Foundation | 8/1/2008 - 7/31/2012 | The Role of Mitochondrial Superoxide in Aging | Role: Supervisor, University of California, Irvine (PI: Samuel E. Shriner)

R21AT004987-01A2 (NIH) | 4/01/2010 - 3/31/2013 | Botanicals, Mitochondrial Bioenergetics, and Aging Pathways | Role: Principal Investigator, University of California, Irvine

R21CA152804-01A1 (NIH) | 3/08/2011-2/28/2013 | Rhodiola rosea Extracts, Salidroside and Bladder Cancer Chemoprevention | Role: Co-investigator, University of California, Irvine (PI: Xiaolin Zi)

UCI Bridge Funds | 8/2012-6/2013 | Role: Principle Investigator, University of California, Irvine

UCI/Ewha Women University in Seoul, Korea | Collaborative Grant | Korean Botanicals, Lifespan and Health Span | 4/2015-4/2016 & 4/2016-4/2017 | Role: Principle Investigator at UCI (Eun-Kyoung Seo, PhD was PI in Seoul, Korea)

School of Medicine and Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 7/2017-7/2018 | Collaborative Grant | The Impact of Metformin, Rapamycin, and Rhodiola rosea on Surrogate Biomarkers of Lifespan and Healthspan in Leptin Receptor Mutant Mice | Role: Co-Principle Investigator from Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine

HL-31210 (NIH), Grant in Aid from the American Heart Association, Hyseq, Inc. | 1998-2002 | Pharmacogenomics of Cardiovascular Therapies | The major goal of this project was to evaluate the impact of pharmacogenomics variables on response to lipid lowering medications. | Role: Co-Investigator, University of California, Irvine (PI: John Kane, MD, PhD, UCSF)

Alaska Rhodiola rosea Products Cooperative Farmers | 2016-2018 | Improving the Quality of Rhodiola rosea in Alaskan Farms. | The purpose of this project was to evaluate the quality of Rhodiola rosea harvest from various farmers in Alaska through characterization of the root extracts using analytical HPLC and in vivo assays. | Role: Principal Investigator, University of California, Irvine

UCI Microbiome Initiative Technical Support Grant | 2018 | The Impact of Rhodiola rosea on the microbiome of leptin deficient mice. | Role: Principal Investigator, University of California, Irvine

University of California, Office of the President | Innovative Learning Teaching Initiative | 2019 | Life101 | The goal of this grant is to develop an enhanced version of the online Life101 so that it can be offered to all UC students and also on Coursera to all college students. | Role: Principal Investigator

Senior Research Scientist
Abbott Laboratories 2001—2004

Regional Scientific Manager
Abbott Laboratories 2004—2005

Pharmacological Sciences

The UCI Center for Healthspan Sciences

Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5313

Last updated
09/04/2025