- Written by Ivan Dulgerov
Dr. Martina Savova
Position: Postdoctoral researcher
Department: Plant Cell Biotechnology, CPSBB
Her primary interest is molecular pharmacology of metabolic diseases and the application of plant secondary metabolites as novel therapeutic approaches. During her PhD studies, she worked on evaluation of potential of natural products to modulate the pathophysiological mechanisms of metabolic diseases, with an emphasis on obesity. She carried out her work and gained expertise within two model systems: human adipocytes and Caenorhabditis elegans. Her research interest also includes pharmacological modulation of the transcription factor Nrf2 as well as regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis in different in vitro and in vivo models by plant-derived secondary metabolites.
Martina is also experienced in NMR-based metabolite profiling of plant extracts and is interested in contemporary analytical techniques for purification of bioactive secondary metabolites.
Dr. Savova’s current work is related to implementation of metabolomics and lipidomics in Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system of metabolic and age-related diseases.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
Mladenova S.G., Todorova M.N., Savova M.S., Mihaylova L.V., Georgiev M.I. (2023) Maackiain mimics caloric restriction through aak-2-mediated lipid reduction in Caenorhabditis elegans. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 24(24): 17442. (IF 5.6)
Georgiev M.I., Vasileva L.V., Savova M.S. (2021) Antiobesity molecules of natural origin: Call for lead finding acceleration. Food Frontiers. DOI: 10.1002/fft2.59.
Savova M.S., Vasileva L.V., Mladenova S.G., Amirova K.M., Ferrante C., Orlando G., Wabitsch M., Georgiev M.I. (2021) Ziziphus jujuba Mill. leaf extract restrains adipogenesis by targeting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy. (accepted). (IF 6.529).
Vasileva L.V., Savova M.S., Tews D., Wabitsch M., Georgiev M.I. (2021) Rosmarinic acid attenuates obesity and obesity-related inflammation in human adipocytes. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 149: 112202. (IF 4.679)
Vasileva L., Savova M., Amirova K., Balcheva-Sivenova Zh., Ferrante C., Orlando G., Wabitsch M. , Georgiev M.I. (2020) Caffeic and chlorogenic acids synergistically activate browning
program in human adipocytes: Implications of AMPK and PPAR-mediated Pathways. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21: 9740. (IF 4.556)
Vasileva L., Savova M., Amirova K., Dinkova-Kostova A., Georgiev M.I. (2020) Obesity and NRF2-mediated cytoprotection: Where is the missing link? Pharmacological Research. 156: 104760. (IF 5.893)