Pharmacology
Area Specialist: Dr. Luna Bennett
The overarching goal of Dr. Luna Bennett's lab is to understand treatment options for different cancers. Anti-cancer drugs generally cause severe adverse effects due to their toxicities and cause high incidence of drug resistance; therefore, there is a need for novel therapeutic approaches for better efficacy of cancer treatment with the least adverse effects.
Specific research areas are:
- Understanding the role of antioxidants such as curcumin, resveratrol on cancer treatments
- Studying the effects of pharmacological concentrations of vitamin C on different cancers
- Using a combination of anti-cancer drugs with antioxidants for their synergistic effects to lower adverse effects of anti-cancer drugs
- Testing new compounds with anti-cancer properties
Several methods are used in my laboratory including cytotoxicity assay, apoptosis assay, DNA fragmentation, analysis of intracellular reactive oxygen species, analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential, and identify genes involve in cancer progression, invasion and metastasis with Western blot analysis.
Besides doing bench-top research in cancer, Dr. Bennett is also interested writing books and review papers related to Gaucher disease or other orphan diseases and understanding the role of natural products and antioxidants on cardiovascular and diabetes.
Floid Cell Imaging System
Molecular Imager
Chemi Doc XRS+ System



Research Testimonial
"Research was something I knew I would be interested in, but I never thought I would want to make it a career until spending the month of January with Dr. Bennett in her lab. The project we were working on was testing the effects of different drugs on the linings of cancer cells, and my specific drug was derived from spigelia anthelmia. Dr. Bennett went above and beyond to guide me through the process and was incredibly patient while explaining new concepts to me. In my time researching, I learned many new laboratory techniques as well as what to look forward to in pharmacy school. I also was able to grow tremendously in my faith because the work we did allowed me to see God through science as we studied what He created. There were many early mornings and frustrations along the way, but it was so rewarding to obtain data that could be life changing to someone. The research she and I did together was challenging and through the challenges I grew not only in knowledge, but also learned how to persevere when the results were not what we expected or hoped for. The experience overall allowed me to obtain a deeper appreciation for research and a better understanding about its vital role in science and healthcare. I believe that research is the future of medicine and I am excited to be a part of groundbreaking work taking place at Union University."
— Natalie Mausey
Publications
- Bennett LL. Frontiers in Leukemia Pharmacotherapy. Edited by Lunawati L Bennett. Published by Nova Science Publishers, 2019.
- Bennett LL. Overview of Acute and Chronic Leukemia. In: Frontiers in Leukemia Pharmacotherapy. Nova Science Publishers, 2019. p.1-14.
- Bennett LL, Qingyu Zhou. Molecular and Genetic Bases of Acute Leukemia. In: Frontiers in Leukemia Pharmacotherapy. Nova Science Publishers, 2019. p.15-56.
- Bennett LL. Leukemia Pharmacology. In: Frontiers in Leukemia Pharmacotherapy. Nova Science Publishers, 2019. p.83-112.
- Bennett LL. Redox Homeostasis in Leukemia. In: Frontiers in Leukemia Pharmacotherapy. Nova Science Publishers, 2019. p.331-344.
- Bennett LL. Supportive Care in Leukemia. In: Frontiers in Leukemia Pharmacotherapy. Nova Science Publishers, 2019. p.345-354.
- Bennett LL. Future Chemotherapy. In: Frontiers in Leukemia Pharmacotherapy. Nova Science Publishers, 2019. p.383-397.
- Bennett LL, Fellner C. Pharmacotherapy of Gaucher Disease: Current and Future Options. Pharmacy and Therapeutics 2018; 43 (5): 274-280.
- Bennett LL. Consumers' Guide to Prescription and Over the Counter Medications. Nova Science Publishers, 2018.p. 1-434.
- Bennett LL. Conventional and Advanced Ocular Formulation and Delivery: A Mini Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine Research Updates. 2017; 4:5-15.
- Bennett LL. Drug Delivery to Specific Compartments of the Eye. In: Ocular Drug Delivery: Advances, Challenges and Applications. Springer International Publishing, 2016. p.37-52.
- Bennett LL. Topical Versus Systemic Ocular Drug Delivery. In: Ocular Drug Delivery: Advances, Challenges and Applications. Springer International Publishing, 2016. p.53-74.
- Bennett LL. Ocular Delivery of Proteins and Peptides. In: Ocular Drug Delivery: Advances, Challenges and Applications. Springer International Publishing, 2016. p.117- 129.
- Bennett LL. Other Advances in Ocular Drug Delivery. In: Ocular Drug Delivery: Advances, Challenges and Applications. Springer International Publishing, 2016. p.165- 185.
- Mondal A, Bennett LL. Resveratrol Enhances the Efficacy of Sorafenib Mediated Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer MCF7 Cells Through ROS, Cell Cycle Inhibition, Caspase 3 and PARP Cleavage. Biomed Pharmacotherapy. 2016.
- Zhou Q, Bennett LL, and Zhou S. Multifaceted Ability of Naturally Occurring Polyphenols Against Metastatic Cancer. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology. 2016. Doi:10.1111/1440-1681.12546
- Bennett LL and Turcotte K. Eliglustat Tartrate for the Treatment of Adults with Type 1 Gaucher Disease. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 2015; 9: 4639-4647.
- Bennett LL and Chalk M. Review of Mipomersen Sodium (Kynamro®) for Familial Hypercholesterolemia. J of Clinical Medicine Research Updates 2014; 1:1-10.
- Bennett LL and Ingason A. Enzalutamide (Xtandi®) for Patients With Metastatic, Resistant Prostate Cancer. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2014; 48 (4):530-537.
- Bennett LL and Mohan D. Review of Gaucher's Disease and Its Treatment Options. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2013; 47(9):1182-1193.
- Bennett LL and Howell P. Vitamin E: Daily Requirements, Dietary Sources, Symptoms of Deficiency, and Recent Use in Clinical Studies. In: Nutrition and Diet Research Progress- Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Nova Science Publisher, 2013. p. 1-34.