Extraction, identification and characterization of naturally occurring compounds and study of their biological activity on cell lines.

Naturally occurring compounds which help plants to thrive or thwart pathogens, predators, competitors or which have a role in mechanical support are well-known to have a beneficial effect on human health. Our study is aimed at the isolation, characterization and analysis of biological activity of bioactive compounds from different natural edible or not sources. In particular, the antioxidant and antitumor activities both of crude extracts and of single molecules or families of molecules are studied on healthy and tumor cell lines. The aim is studying the involved signaling pathways.
Furthermore, in order to develop drug-delivery therapeutic strategies another study is aimed at the delivery of bio-active natural substances by nanoparticles.

Members:
Rita Carrotta
Maria Assunta Costa (Principal investigator)
Valeria Guarrasi
Maria Rosalia Mangione
Rosa Passantino