Layhna Plagmann is originally from Lebanon, OR, and received her BS degree from Oregon State University in 2005. She later enrolled as a post-bacc in Nutrition, and while taking the organic series with Dr. Daniel Myles she became fascinated with organic chemistry. She joined the BRG in Spring of 2017 as an undergraduate research assistant to work on the total synthesis of xanthohumol, the principal prenylated flavonoid from hops with potential use to study metabolic pathways. For her MS project, Layhna continued research on the synthesis of xanthohumol derivatives to support further metabolic studies by the Linus Pauling Institute, including novel pyrazole-based analogs with improved pharmacokinetics. During her time at OSU, Layhna also worked as an Instructor and she taught classes in General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, in addition to laboratory-based courses.

"Xanthohumol Pyrazole Derivative Improves Diet-Induced Obesity and Induces Energy Expenditure in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice," L. I. Paraiso, L. M. Mattio, A. A. Magaña, J. Choi, L. S. Plagmann, M. A. Redick, C. L. Miranda, C. S. Maier, S. Dallavalle, C. Kioussi, P. R. Blakemore, J. F. Stevens* ACS Pharmacol. Transl. Sci. 2021, 4, 1782-1793. [LINK][abstract][SI]

"Reductive Metabolism of Xanthohumol and 8-Prenylnaringenin by the Intestinal Bacterium Eubacterium ramulus," Paraiso, I. L.; Plagmann, L. S.; Yang, L.; Zielke, R.; Gombart, A. F.; Maier, C. S.; Sikora, A. E.; Blakemore, P. R.; Stevens,* J. F. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2019, 63, 1800923. [LINK]

"Total Synthesis of [13C]2-, [13C]3-, and [13C]5-Isotopomers of Xanthohumol, the Principal Prenylflavonoid From Hops," Ellinwood, D. C.; El-Mansy, M. F.; Plagmann, L. S.; Stevens, J. F.; Maier, C. S.; Gombart, A. F.; Blakemore,* P. R. J. Label. Compd. Radiopharm. 2017, 60, 639-648. [LINK]