Bioactive aroma compounds

© Veronika Somoza

The research group of Veronika Somoza focuses on elucidating the molecular and physiological mechanisms by which flavor-active food compounds influence human biology. Central to this work is the identification of cellular signaling pathways triggered by taste-active molecules and their metabolites, which are generated during digestion and endogenous metabolic processes.

Using human cell-based systems and advanced analytical approaches, the group investigates how these compounds interact with chemosensory receptors and downstream signaling networks, linking chemical structure to functional biological responses. This includes the study of bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) as modulators of cellular processes such as inflammation, metabolism, and secretion.

Building on mechanistic insights, the research extends toward translational applications, aiming to predict how flavor-active compounds influence systemic physiological responses in humans. Selected findings are validated in proof-of-concept human studies, with the long-term goal of enabling predictive models for dietary compounds and their impact on health, metabolism, and sensory perception.

This integrative approach bridges food chemistry, receptor pharmacology, and human physiology, contributing to a deeper understanding of how chemical cues from diet modulate biological function.

 PROJECTS:

  1. Taste and chemotherapy
  2. CDL for bioactive aroma compounds