Main Research Topics
Synthesis of biologically active natural compounds and derivatives for food and pharma applications
Our reserach group has established a long lasting experience in the study of natural compounds as bioactive agents, for both human and plant protection.
The reserach effort of our team is directed to the total synthesis of nature derived compounds and the derivatization of these scaffolds to obtain analogues endowed with relevant biological acitivity. We focus our attention on the study of structure – activity relationships combined with the optimization of physico-chemical properties.
In line with the principles of green chemistry, research activities are devoted to the development of (bio)catalysed chemical approaches, performed in batch and in flow chemistry reactors, focused on finding green and sustainable solutions to transform by-products and residues from the agri-food chain into high value-added compounds.
Isolation and characterization of natural compounds from plant matrices and agri-food residues
Within the context of circular economy, biomass valorization is a central key point for the reduction of waste generation. Agri-food residues are a tresure-chest of high value compounds that could be extracted to be used in their native form or be the starting point for new chemical entities. A greener vision of the agri-food chain is one of the main topic of the Italian PNRR as weel as of the European Green Agenda 2030. Our group is actually involved in two european projects (Agritech and OnFoods) contributing with our expertise to reach these challenging goals.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Natural and Nature-Inspired Catechol Siderophores: A Promising Strategy for Rice Blast Management – J. Agric. Food Chem. 2024, 72, 22439−22450 – DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c02909
- Chemo-enzymatic flow synthesis of nature-inspired phenolic carbonates and carbamates as antiradical and antimicrobial agents – Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy 2024 39, 101542 – DOI: 10.1016/j.scp.2024.101542
- Nutritional epigenomic and DNA-damage modulation effect of natural stilbenoids – Scientific Reports 2023, 13:658 – DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27260-1
- Antiviral, virucidal and antioxidant properties of Artemisia annua against SARS-CoV-2 – Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 2023, 168, 115682 – DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115682
- Antioxidant activity of citrus limonoids and investigation of their virucidal potential against SARS-CoV-2 in cellular models – Antioxidants 2021, 10 (11), 1794 – DOI: 10.3390/antiox10111794
- Plant-Derived Stilbenoids as DNA-Binding Agents: From Monomers to Dimers – Chem. Eur. J. 2021, 27, 8832–8845 – DOI: 10.1002/chem.202101229
- A strategic Ser/Cys exchange in the catalytic triad unlocks an acyltransferase-mediated synthesis of thioesters and tertiary amides – Nat Catal 2020, 3, 1020–1026 – DOI: 10.1038/s41929-020-00539-0