Overview
Background
Dr Saleha Akter is a food and nutrition scientist with expertise in food chemistry, nutritional biochemistry, and functional foods. She has been working with plant-based foods and Australian native crops for more than fifteen years, specialising in understanding how food composition, quality, and safety influence nutrition and human health.
With a background in analytical chemistry and cell-based assays, her expertise lies in assessing the nutrient and bioactive content of foods, evaluating post-harvest and supply chain impacts on food quality, and modelling bioavailability and safety using in vitro digestion and mammalian cell culture systems.
Akter has a strong interest in exploring the health-promoting properties of bioactive compounds, particularly in underutilised and native plant species, and in translating these findings into functional food applications. She also works at the interface of food science and policy, ensuring that research outcomes support innovation, regulation, and public health.
Availability
- Dr Saleha Akter is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University
- Masters (Research) of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Food Composition and Nutritional Quality
The nutritional quality of food is determined not only by its genetic makeup but also by how it is grown, harvested, processed, and stored. Across diverse food systems, there are major opportunities to improve human nutrition by identifying how key nutrients and minerals are retained or lost from farm to consumer. Projects in this area include examining the effects of post-harvest practices, characterising nutrient profiles using advanced analytical techniques, and developing strategies that preserve nutritional value in supply chains.
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Bioactive Compounds and Functional Foods
Future foods will increasingly rely on natural bioactive compounds to provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Unlocking the potential of underutilised and native plants requires systematic identification, characterisation, and validation of their bioactive properties. Research in this area includes profiling phytochemicals, assessing their stability and metabolism, and supporting the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals that enhance human health while creating value-added opportunities for agriculture.
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Food Safety and Risk Assessment
Ensuring the safety of emerging foods and ingredients is essential to consumer trust and industry innovation. New analytical and cell-based methods are needed to evaluate potential risks, bioavailability, and metabolism of both nutrients and bioactives. Projects in this area apply in vitro digestion models and mammalian cell culture systems to provide evidence that informs regulatory frameworks, supports product development, and protects public health.
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Supply Chain Quality and Nutrient Retention
Food quality and nutrient retention can be heavily impacted by the way foods are handled, stored, and transported. Reducing post-harvest losses and nutrient degradation is central to improving food security and sustainability. Research in this area focuses on identifying critical control points in supply chains, testing interventions to reduce waste, and developing guidelines that support both industry efficiency and consumer nutrition.
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Research Translation and Policy Impact
Scientific discoveries only achieve their full potential when translated into practice. By connecting food chemistry, nutrition science, and policy, research in this area ensures that innovation in food production and safety aligns with consumer health and industry priorities. Projects may include informing nutrition policy, guiding regulatory frameworks for new ingredients, and supporting the sustainable growth of Australia’s native food sector.
Research impacts
Dr Saleha Akter’s research delivers impact by linking food quality and nutrition science with practical outcomes for health, industry, and policy. Her work has generated new understanding of how food composition and supply chains influence nutrient retention, safety, and bioavailability, providing evidence to improve the nutritional value of everyday diets and strengthen food system resilience.
Through studies on green leafy vegetables and other plant-based foods, she has identified key points where nutrient losses and safety risks occur along the value chain. These findings have informed strategies to reduce post-harvest losses and maintain food quality from farm to consumer. Her work on Australian native plants has advanced knowledge of their unique bioactive compounds, supporting their safe and sustainable use in the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals.
Akter’s application of cell-based models to assess absorption and metabolism of bioactives has offered new tools for both industry and regulators to evaluate safety and efficacy. Her research outcomes contribute directly to policy and regulatory frameworks, ensuring that food innovation is grounded in science and aligned with public health priorities. This has strengthened consumer confidence, supported sustainable industry growth, and enhanced the global profile of Australia’s native food sector.
Works
Search Professor Saleha Akter’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Journal Article
Interactions between phytochemicals and minerals in Terminalia ferdinandiana and implications for mineral bioavailability
Akter, Saleha, Netzel, Michael, Tinggi, Ujang, Fletcher, Mary, Osborne, Simone and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2020). Interactions between phytochemicals and minerals in Terminalia ferdinandiana and implications for mineral bioavailability. Frontiers in Nutrition, 7 598219, 598219. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.598219
2020
Conference Publication
Effects of Fruit Maturity on Physicochemical Properties, Sugar Accumulation and Antioxidant Capacity of Wild Harvested Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana)
Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Damyeh, Maral Seidi, Akter, Saleha, Chaliha, Mridusmita, Netzel, Michael E., Cozzolino, Daniel and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2020). Effects of Fruit Maturity on Physicochemical Properties, Sugar Accumulation and Antioxidant Capacity of Wild Harvested Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana). 1st International Electronic Conference on Food Science and Functional Foods, Online, 10–25 November 2020. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/foods_2020-07819
2020
Conference Publication
Effects of fruit maturity on physicochemical properties, sugar accumulation and antioxidant capacity of wild harvested Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana)
Phan, Anh D. T., Damyeh, Maral S., Chaliha, Mridusmita, Akter, Saleha, Fyfe, Selina A., Netzel, Michael E, Cozzolino, Daniel and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2020). Effects of fruit maturity on physicochemical properties, sugar accumulation and antioxidant capacity of wild harvested Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana). 1st International Electronic Conference on Food Science and Functional Foods (MDPI), Online, 10-25 November 2020. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI.
2020
Other Outputs
Assessing the safe use of Terminalia ferdinandiana for dietary purposes
Akter, Saleha (2020). Assessing the safe use of Terminalia ferdinandiana for dietary purposes. PhD Thesis, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/e17146a
2019
Journal Article
Antioxidant rich extracts of Terminalia ferdinandiana inhibit the growth of foodborne bacteria
Akter, Saleha, Netzel, Michael E., Tinggi, Ujang, Osborne, Simone A., Fletcher, Mary T. and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2019). Antioxidant rich extracts of Terminalia ferdinandiana inhibit the growth of foodborne bacteria. Foods, 8 (8) 281, 281. doi: 10.3390/foods8080281
2019
Journal Article
Antioxidant-rich extracts of Terminalia ferdinandiana interfere with estimation of cell viability
Akter, Saleha, Addepalli, Rama, Netzel, Michael E., Tinggi, Ujang, Fletcher, Mary T., Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Osborne, Simone A. (2019). Antioxidant-rich extracts of Terminalia ferdinandiana interfere with estimation of cell viability. Antioxidants, 8 (6) 191, 191. doi: 10.3390/antiox8060191
2019
Conference Publication
In vitro bioaccessibility and transport of ascorbic and ellagic acid in Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) extracts
Akter, Saleha, Addepalli, Rama, Netzel, Michael E., Tinggi, Ujang, Fletcher, Mary T., Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Osborne, Simone A. (2019). In vitro bioaccessibility and transport of ascorbic and ellagic acid in Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) extracts. Active Integrated Matter (AIM) Conference 2019, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 14-16 May 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Antimicrobial activity and ellagitannins from Terminalia ferdinandiana
Akter, Saleha, Hong, Hung Trieu, Netzel, Michael E., Tinggi, Ujang, Osborne, Simone, Fletcher, Mary and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2019). Antimicrobial activity and ellagitannins from Terminalia ferdinandiana. TropAg2019, International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036081
2018
Journal Article
Chemical and nutritional composition of Terminalia ferdinandiana (kakadu plum) kernels: a novel nutrition source
Akter, Saleha, Netzel, Michael E., Fletcher, Mary T., Tinggi, Ujang and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2018). Chemical and nutritional composition of Terminalia ferdinandiana (kakadu plum) kernels: a novel nutrition source. Foods, 7 (4) 60, 60. doi: 10.3390/foods7040060
2018
Journal Article
Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.: a vegetable with diverse pharmacological properties
Khandaker, Mahia, Akter, Saleha and Imam, Mohammad Zafar (2018). Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.: a vegetable with diverse pharmacological properties. Food Science and Human Wellness, 7 (1), 34-48. doi: 10.1016/j.fshw.2017.12.005
2018
Conference Publication
Ellagic acid-rich extracts of Terminalia ferdinandiana fruit and seeds, improve cell viability in vitro compared to ellagic acid alone
Akter, Saleha, Addepalli, Rama, Netzel, Michael E., Tinggi, Ujang, Fletcher, Mary T., Osborne, Simone A. and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2018). Ellagic acid-rich extracts of Terminalia ferdinandiana fruit and seeds, improve cell viability in vitro compared to ellagic acid alone. 26th Annual RACI R & D Topics Conference 2018, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 2-5 December 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Cytotoxicity of Terminalia ferdinandiana extracts in intestinal and hepatic cancer cell lines
Akter, S., Addepalli, R., Netzel, M.E., Tinggi, U., Fletcher, M.T., Sultanbawa, Y. and Osborne, S.A. (2018). Cytotoxicity of Terminalia ferdinandiana extracts in intestinal and hepatic cancer cell lines. 10th International Symposium of Poisonous Plants (ISOPP10), St George, Utah, United States, 16-20 September 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Cytotoxicity of Terminalia ferdinandiana extracts in intestinal and hepatic cancer cell lines
Akter, Saleha, Addepalli, Rama, Netzel, Michael E., Tinggi, Ujang, Fletcher, Mary T., Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Osborne, Simone A. (2018). Cytotoxicity of Terminalia ferdinandiana extracts in intestinal and hepatic cancer cell lines. 10th International Symposium on Poisonous Plants (ISOPP), St George, Utah, United States, 16-20 September 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
A13 - Safety assessment of ellagic acid-rich extracts from Terminalia ferdinandiana
Akter, Saleha, Addepalli, Rama, Netzel, Michael E., Tinggi, Ujang, Fletcher, Mary T., Osborne, Simone A. and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2018). A13 - Safety assessment of ellagic acid-rich extracts from Terminalia ferdinandiana. 3rd Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium QACS 2018, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 23 November 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Nutritional and anti-nutritional properties of Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) from the Northern Territory, Australia
Akter, Saleha, Netzel, Michael, Tinggi, Ujang, Fletcher, Mary, Williams, David and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2018). Nutritional and anti-nutritional properties of Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) from the Northern Territory, Australia. Active Integrated Matter (AIM) Conference 2018, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 20-22 February 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Safety Assessment of Terminalia ferdinandiana Fruits using Four Different Cell Lines
Akter, Saleha, Addepalli, Rama, Netzel, Michael E., Tinggi, Ujang, Fletcher, Mary T., Osborne, Simone A. and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2018). Safety Assessment of Terminalia ferdinandiana Fruits using Four Different Cell Lines. 4th International Conference on Food Chemistry and Technology (FCT-2018), Berlin, Germany, 5-7 November 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Safety assessment of ellagic acid-rich extracts from Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum)
Akter, Saleha, Addepalli, Rama, Netzel, Michael, Tinggi, Ujang, Fletcher, Mary, Osborne, Simone and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2018). Safety assessment of ellagic acid-rich extracts from Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum). QACS 2018 - Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium, Brisbane QLD, Australia, 23 November 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Kakadu plum: safety assessment
Akter, Saleha, Netzel, Michael, Tinggi, Ujang, Fletcher, Mary, Osborne, Simone and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2018). Kakadu plum: safety assessment. Workshop on An Interdisciplinary Dialogue on the Legal, Social and Scientific Uses of the Kakadu plum, Brisbane QLD, Australia, 1 June 2018.
2017
Journal Article
Antinociceptive activity of methanol extract of leaves of Solanum sisymbriifolium in heat and chemical-induced pain
Nasrin, Tania, Khandaker, Mahia, Akter, Saleha and Imam, Mohammad Zafar (2017). Antinociceptive activity of methanol extract of leaves of Solanum sisymbriifolium in heat and chemical-induced pain. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 7 (11), 142-146. doi: 10.7324/JAPS.2017.71121
2017
Conference Publication
Nutritional and Anti-Nutritional Properties of Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) from the Northern Territory, Australia
Akter, S., Netzel, M., Tinggi, U., Fletcher, M., Williams, D. and Sultanbawa, Y. (2017). Nutritional and Anti-Nutritional Properties of Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) from the Northern Territory, Australia. TropAg2017, International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, Qld, Australia, 20-22 November 2017.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Saleha Akter is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
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