Rong Cao, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Food Bioactives Chemistry and Biochemistry

Current research and/or projects

Dr. Cao leads multi-disciplinary teams to conduct national and international research to support AAFC’s mandate and priorities. His research focuses on two AAFC Strategic Objectives: “Improve attributes for food and non-food uses” and “Addressing threats to the agriculture and agri-food value chain”, in the Focus Areas of (1) Cereals & Pulses; (2) Agri-Food, (3) Bioproducts, and (4) Horticulture as set in AAFC’s Agri-Food Sector - Science Strategy. Dr. Cao is an internationally highly recognized authority in food bioactives and attributes, especially in those with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. He contributes by developing novel methods for the identification of food bioactives and their important functional properties in all aforementioned four areas, by taking new approaches to assess bioaccessibility, bioavailability, metabolomics and molecular mechanisms of action, and by providing information essential to crop breeding and processing programs, health claims substantiation and to forage crops. Dr. Cao also addresses the above threats by developing new methods for the detection and identification of regulated and emerging mycotoxins, by using natural antimicrobials, and optimizing food processing conditions to mitigate mycotoxin contamination.

Research and/or project statements

A systematic approach to characterization of free; conjugated and bound forms of food bioactives and their antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activities in pulses using cell models and in vitro gastrointestinal and gut digestions
Integrated research-development-technology-transfer approach to enhance productivity and sustainability of potato production in Canada
Applying genomic ideotype breeding to increase bean productivity, healthfulness and sustainability
Characterization of phytochemicals and dietary fibres in pulse processing by-products for value-added functional food products
Research network on emerging mycotoxins of potential importance for Canadian agriculture and regulation of domestic commodities and international trade

Professional activities / interests

Characterization of food bioactives with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities
Bioaccessibility, bioavailability, metabolism and cell signaling modulating effects of food bioactives
Characterization and mitigation of mycotoxins in food and natural antimicrobials

Education and awards

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA (1992-1996)
Ph.D. in Agricultural Chemistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan (1991)
M.Sc. in Agricultural Chemistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan (1988)
B.Sc. in Agricultural Chemistry, Beijing Agricultural University, Beijing, China (1984)

Awards

Gold Harvest Award - Innovation, Collaboration and Service Excellence, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 2016
Highly Cited Researchers since 2014-present, Thomson Reuters (http://highlycited.com/ )

International experience and/or work

Collaboration with researchers in Italy, Mexico and China

Key publications

Kirby, C.W., Wu, T.-Y., Nabuurs, M.H., Tsao, R., Tsao, R., and McCallum, J.L. (2014). "Anthocyanin and Pyranoanthocyanin Biosynthesis in Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina L.).", 53rd Annual meeting of Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA), Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, August 9-13, 2014, Presentation.
2014 - View publication details
Drinkwater, J.M., Tsao, R., Liu, R., Wolyn, D.J. (2014). Genetic variation and heritability of rutin and glutathione concentrations in asparagus spears. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, [online] 94(8), 1355-1362. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/CJPS-2014-146
2014 - View publication details
Zhang, B., Deng, Z., Tang, Y., Chen, P., Liu, R., Ramdath, D.D., Liu, Q., Hernandez, M., Tsao, R. (2014). Fatty acid, carotenoid and tocopherol compositions of 20 Canadian lentil cultivars and synergistic contribution to antioxidant activities. Food Chemistry, [online] 161 296-304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.04.014
2014 - View publication details
Li, H., Deng, Z., Liu, R., Loewen, S., Tsao, R. (2014). Bioaccessibility, in vitro antioxidant activities and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of a purple tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Food Chemistry, [online] 159 353-360. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.03.023
2014 - View publication details
Chen, P.X., Tang, Y., Zhang, B., Liu, R., Marcone, M.F., Li, X., Tsao, R. (2014). 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furfural and derivatives formed during acid hydrolysis of conjugated and bound phenolics in plant foods and the effects on phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, [online] 62(20), 4754-4761. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf500518r
2014 - View publication details
Zhang, C., Monk, J.M., Lu, J.T., Zarepoor, L., Wu, W., Liu, R., Pauls, K.P., Wood, G.A., Robinson, L., Tsao, R., Power, K.A. (2014). Cooked navy and black bean diets improve biomarkers of colon health and reduce inflammation during colitis. British Journal of Nutrition, [online] 111(9), 1549-1563. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114513004352
2014 - View publication details
Zhang, B., Ye, H., Zhu, X.M., Hu, J.N., Li, H.Y., Tsao, R., Deng, Z.Y., Zheng, Y.N., Li, W. (2014). Esterification enhanced intestinal absorption of ginsenoside Rh2 in caco-2 cells without impacts on its protective effects against H2O 2-induced cell injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, [online] 62(9), 2096-2103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf404738s
2014 - View publication details
Shi, Y., Kovacs-Nolan, J., Jiang, B., Tsao, R., Mine, Y. (2014). Peptides derived from eggshell membrane improve antioxidant enzyme activity and glutathione synthesis against oxidative damage in Caco-2 cells. Journal of Functional Foods, [online] 11(C), 571-580. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2014.08.017
2014 - View publication details
Ramdath, D.D., Padhi, E., Hawke, A., Sivaramalingam, T., Tsao, R. (2014). The glycemic index of pigmented potatoes is related to their polyphenol content. Food and Function, [online] 5(5), 909-915. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c3fo60395d
2014 - View publication details
Radočaj, O., Dimić, E., Tsao, R. (2014). Effects of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Seed Oil Press-Cake and Decaffeinated Green Tea Leaves (Camellia sinensis) on Functional Characteristics of Gluten-Free Crackers. Journal of Food Science, [online] 79(3), http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.12370
2014 - View publication details
Sessa, M., Balestrieri, M.L., Ferrari, G., Servillo, L., Castaldo, D., D'Onofrio, N., Donsì, F., Tsao, R. (2014). Bioavailability of encapsulated resveratrol into nanoemulsion-based delivery systems. Food Chemistry, [online] 147 42-50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.09.088
2014 - View publication details
Sessa, M., Donsì, F., Ferrari, G., and Tsao, R. (2013). "Cellular antioxidant activity of resveratrol encapsulated in nanoscale lipid-based delivery systems.", International Society for Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, Taipei, Taiwan, November 5-9, 2013. (Abstract)
2013 - View publication details
Tsao, R., Zhu, H., Ye, J., and Cousins, L.M. (2013). "A New, Sensitive Method for Lignan Metabolite Detection of Flaxseed-Fed Mice using LC-MS/MS", American Society for Mass Spectrometry, Minneapolis, MN, USA, June 9-13, 2013.
2013 - View publication details
Hao, X.M., Tsao, R., Khosla, S., and Haight, D. (2013 Confidential). Evaluation of new light sources for optimizing year-round greenhouse vegetable production system with supplemental lighting, Final AIP Research Project Report to Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, 5 pages. (Report)
2013 - View publication details
Tsao, R. and Li, H. (2013). "Analytical techniques for phytochemicals.", in Tiwari, B., Brunton, N. and Brennan, C. (eds.) - Handbook of Phytochemicals: Sources, Stability and Extraction, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chapter 19, pp. 434-451.
2013 - View publication details
Hao, X.M., Tsao, R., and Khosla, S. (2013 Confidential). Sustainable year-round greenhouse vegetable production with supplemental lighting, Second Interim Research Project Report to Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, 7 pages. (Report)
2013 - View publication details
Tsao, R. (2013). "Pyranoanthocyanins and other polyphenols from Staghorn Sumac (Rhus hirta L.) and the potential health benefits.", International Society for Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, Taipei, Taiwan, November 5-9, 2013. (Abstract)
2013 - View publication details
Chen, P., Marcone, M.F., and Tsao, R. (2013). "Red Clover Bioactive Constituents.", - American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Therapeutic Compendium.
2013 - View publication details
Zhang, H., Li, L., Li, B., Zhao, A., and Tsao, R. (2013). "Polyphenolic Profiles and Antioxidant Activities of Smilax glabra Roxb. and S. china L.", Latin American Journal of Pharmacy, 32(10), pp. 1558-1564.
2013 - View publication details
Kirby, C.W., Wu, T., Tsao, R., Tsao, R., and McCallum, J.L. (2013). "Isolation and structural characterization of unusual pyranoanthocyanins and related anthocyanins from Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina L.) via UPLC-ESI-MS, 1H, 13C, and 2D NMR spectroscopy).", 52nd Annual meeting of Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA), Corvallis, Oregon, USA, August 2-7, 2013.
2013 - View publication details