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Publications
Publications (69)
The natural human telomeric G-quadruplex (G4) sequence d(GGGTTAGGGTTAGGGTTAGGG) HT21 was extensively utilized as a G4 DNA-based catalytic system for enantioselective reactions. Nine oligonucleotides (ODNs) based on this sequence and containing 8-bromo-2′-deoxyadenosine (ABr), 8-oxo-2′-deoxyadenosine (Aoxo) or β-L-2′-deoxyadenosine (AL) at different...
Staphylococcusaureus is an important opportunistic pathogen that causes many infections in humans and animals. The inappropriate use of antibiotics has favored the diffusion of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), nullifying the efforts undertaken in the discovery of antimicrobial agents. Oxadiazole heterocycles represent privileged scaffolds fo...
Natural products have been the main source of bioactive molecules for centuries. We tested the biological profile of two metabolites extracted from Gentiana lutea L. by means of computational techniques and in vitro assays. The two molecules (loganic acid and gentiopicroside) were tested in silico using an innovative technique, named Inverse Virtua...
The multiple inhibition of biological targets involved in pro-inflammatory eicosanoid biosynthesis represents an innovative strategy for treating inflammatory disorders in light of higher efficacy and safety. Herein, following a multidisciplinary protocol involving virtual combinatorial screening, chemical synthesis, and in vitro and in vivo valida...
The Gram-negative Pantoea eucrina D2 was isolated from the marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis. Sponges were collected in a shallow volcanic vents system in Ischia island (South Italy), influenced by CO2 emissions and lowered pH. The chemical diversity of the secondary metabolites produced by this strain, under different culture conditions, was exp...
A wide range of prescreening tests for antimicrobial activity of 59 bacterial isolates from sediments of Ria Formosa Lagoon (Algarve, Portugal) disclosed Vibrio spartinae 3.6 as the most active antibacterial producing strain. This bacterial strain, which has not previously been submitted for chemical profiling, was subjected to de novo whole genome...
GPBAR1 agonists have been identified as potential lead for the treatment of diseases related to colon inflammation such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. In this paper, we report the discovery of a small library of hyodeoxycholane analogs, deco-rated at C-6 with different substituents, as potent and selective GPBAR1 agonists. In vitro pharmacologi...
Crellastatin A, a cytotoxic sulfated bis‐steroid isolated from the Vanuatu Island marine sponge Crella sp., has been selected as an interesting probe for a comprehensive proteomic analysis, directed to the characterization of its protein interactors. Since its peculiar structural features, crellastatin A has been submitted to a mass spectrometry‐ba...
In the recent years, bile acid receptors FXR and GPBAR1 have attracted the interest of scientific community and companies, as they proved promising targets for the treatment of several diseases, ranging from liver cholestatic disorders to metabolic syndrome, inflammatory states, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and diabetes.
Introduction:
Sempervivum tectorum L. (Crassulaceae), is a succulent perennial plant widespread in Mediterranean countries and commonly used in traditional medicine for ear inflammation, ulcers and skin rashes as a refrigerant and astringent.
Objective:
To demonstrate the therapeutic effects of the plant, various fractions were purified and char...
The n-butanolic extract, from an Iranian specimen of Nepeta asterotricha Rech. f. (NABE), displayed anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated J774A.1 macrophages, which reduced nitrites and cytokines production. Bioassay guided fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of four iridoid glycosides, including a new one k...
The G-protein bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1) has emerged in the last decade as prominent target for the treatment of metabolic and inflammatory diseases including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. To date numerous bile acid derivatives have been identified as GPBAR1 agonists, however their clinical application is hampered...
The exploration of poorly studied areas of Earth can highly increase the possibility to discover novel bioactive compounds. In this study, the cultivable fraction of fungi and bacteria from Barents Sea sediments has been studied to mine new bioactive molecules with antibacterial activity against a panel of human pathogens. We isolated diverse strai...
Sinuleptolide and its congeners are diterpenes with a norcembranoid skeleton isolated from the soft coral genus Sinularia. These marine metabolites are endowed with relevant biological activities, mainly associated with cancer development. 5-epi-sinuleptolide has been selected as a candidate for target discovery studies through the application of c...
Background: Several GC and HPLC methods have been proposed for the separation of aldose enantiomers. Method: We developed a general HPLC method for the discrimination of (D,L)-monosaccharide components from natural products. The reaction involves the preparation of L-cysteine (3-nitrophenyl) methyl ester hydrochloride, which reacts with aldoses lea...
The plant Gymnema sylvestre has been used widely in traditional medicine as a remedy for several diseases, and its leaf extract is known to contain a group of bioactive triterpene saponins belonging to the gymnemic acid class. Gymnemic acid I (1) is one of the main components among this group of secondary metabolites and is endowed with an interest...
Bile acid (BA) receptors represent well-defined targets for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to metabolic and inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we report the generation of novel C-3 modified 6-ethylcholane derivatives. The pharmacological characterization and molecular docking studies for the structure-activity rationaliza...
Extracts of Ruscus aculeatus are a rich source of bioactive steroidal glycosides, such as ruscogenins which are reported to act against chronic venous disorders. Nowadays, several preparations of its roots, commonly used in traditional medicine, are on the market as food supplements for health care and maintenance. Although spirostanol deglucorusci...
Bile acids are signaling molecules interacting with nuclear receptors and membrane G-protein-coupled receptors. Among these receptors, the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the membrane G-coupled receptor (GPBAR1) have gained increasing consideration as druggable receptors and their exogenous dual regulation represents an attractive strategy in the tr...
Marine fungi represent an important but still largely unexplored source of novel and potentially bioactive secondary metabolites. The antimicrobial activity of nine sterile mycelia isolated from the green alga Flabellia petiolata collected from the Mediterranean Sea was tested on four antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains using extracellular and i...
Bile acids are the endogenous modulators of the nuclear receptor FXR and the membrane receptor GPBAR1. FXR represents a promising pharmacological target for the treatment of cholestatic liver disorders. Currently available semisynthetic bile acid derivatives cover the same chemical space of bile acids and therefore they are poorly selective toward...
Bile acids can regulate nutrient metabolism through the activation of the cell membrane receptor GPBAR1 and the nuclear receptor FXR. Developing an exogenous control over these receptors represents an attractive strategy for the treatment of enterohepatic and metabolic disorders. A number of dual GPBAR1/FXR agonists are known, however their therape...
To explore anti-inflammatory activities of organic extract and its semi-purified fractions (ethanol, acetone, methanol/dichloromethane) from the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis.
The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities were evaluated, using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model and the acetic acid writhing test in mice. The...
Phytochemical investigation of polar extract from Juniperus oxycedrus spp. oxycedrus berries leds to the isolation of one new monoterpene glucoside (3R, 6E)-3,7 dimethyl 8-hydroxy-6-octenoic acid 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside along with seven known components, some of them were initially isolated from Juniperus communis L. berries. Their structures we...
Nuclear and G-protein coupled receptors are considered major targets for drug discovery. FXR and GP-BAR1, two bile acid-activated receptors, have gained increasing consideration as druggable receptors. Because endogenous bile acids often target both receptor families, the development of selective ligands has been proven difficult exposing patients...
Background
Gorgonians of the genus Eunicella are known for possessing a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antiproliferative and antibacterial effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effect of the organic extract and its semi-purified fractions from the white gorgonian Eunicella singula...
The analysis of two Thorectidae sponges samples, Hyrtios sp. and Petrosaspongia sp., collected at Fiji Islands, led to the isolation of five new scalarane derivatives along with fifteen known derivatives. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR and MS spectroscopic data. The small library of natural scalarane derivatives was investigat...
Bile acids are signalling molecules interacting with the nuclear receptor FXR and the G-protein coupled receptor 1 (GP-BAR1/TGR5). GP-BAR1 is promising pharmacological target for the treatment of steato-hepatitis, type 2 diabetes and obesity. Endogenous bile acids and currently available semisynthetic bile acids are poorly selective toward GP-BAR1...
Epidemiological studies have shown that a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases is correlated with a regular consumption of fruits and vegetable, many of which are rich in polyphenols. The additive and synergistic effect of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables may reduce chronic diseases related to oxidative...
Marine organisms and their metabolites represent a unique source of potential pharmaceutical substances. In this study, we examined marine-derived substances for their bioactive properties in a cell-based Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) replicon model and for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. In the screening of a marine sample library, crude extracts...
In recent years many sterols with unusual structures and promising biological profiles have been identified from marine sources. Here we report the isolation of a series of 24-alkylated-hydroxysteroids from the soft coral Sinularia kavarattiensis, acting as pregnane X receptor (PXR) modulators. Starting from this scaffold a number of derivatives we...
The analysis of two Thorectidae sponge samples, Hyrtios sp. and Petrosaspongia sp., collected at Fiji Islands, led to the isolation of five new scalarane derivatives along with fifteen known compounds. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR and MS spectroscopic data. The small library of natural scalarane derivatives was investigated...
In this paper the stereostructural investigation of two new oxygenated polyketides, plakilactones G and H, isolated from the marine sponge Plakinastrella mamillaris collected at Fiji Islands, is reported. The stereostructural studies began on plakilactone H by applying an integrated approach of the NOE-based protocol and quantum mechanical calculat...
Further purification of the apolar extracts of the sponge Plakinastrella mamillaris, afforded a new oxygenated polyketide named gracilioether K, together with the previously isolated gracilioethers E-G and gracilioethers I and J. The structure of the new compound has been elucidated by extensive NMR (1H and 13C, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY) and ESI...
Here, we report suvanine, a marine sponge sesterterpene, as an antagonist of the mammalian bile acid sensor farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR). Using suvanine as a template, we shed light on the molecular bases of FXR antagonism identifying the essential conformational changes responsible for the transition from the agonist to the antagonist form. Molecula...
Plakortides R–U, four new polyketide endoperoxides, have been isolated from the marine sponge Plakinastrella mamillaris. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR spectroscopic (1H and 13C, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY) and MS analyses and by chemical methods. In addition, a new method for the unambiguous stereochemical elucidat...
The study presents a fully validated simple high-performance liquid chromatography method with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), able to accurately determine the melamine, fraudulently added, in protein supplements, commonly used from healthy adults to enhance exercise or sport performance. The validation strategy was intentionally oriented towards...
Two new furostanol saponins 1–2 and three new sulphated glycosides 3a,b and 4 were isolated from the underground parts of Ruscus aculeatus L., along with four known furostanol and one spirostanol saponins 5–9 and three free sterols. All of the structures have been elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data 1D and 2D NMR experiments, MS spectra a...
Purification of the apolar extracts of the marine sponge Plakinastrella mamillaris afforded the isolation of six new oxygenated polyketides, gracilioethers EeJ, featuring an unprecedented oxidation pattern of the polycyclic core. On a common tricyclic core, gracilioethers E, G, and J feature the furanyliden methyl ester substructure and gracilioeth...
Marine bioactive compounds are potential drug leads because of their diverse pharmacological effects against human diseases. The identification of their cellular targets is crucial for a rational approach to their application in medicinal chemistry. Thus, we have analyzed the cell interactome of suvanine, a sulfated tricyclic terpenoid of marine or...
In this paper we report the isolation and the molecular characterization of a new class of PPARγ ligands from the marine environment. Biochemical characterization of a library of 13 oxygenated polyketides isolated from the marine sponge Plakinastrella mamillaris allowed the discovery of gracilioether B and plakilactone C as selective PPARγ ligands...
In the present study, the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae) were assessed. Fractionation of methanol extract obtained from the aerial parts of T. polium yielded one new phenylethanoid glycoside, named poliumoside B, together with four known flavonoids, two iridoid glycosides and a known poliumoside. T...
In our ongoing search for new pharmacologically active leads from Solomon organisms, we have examined the sponge Theonella swinhoei. Herein we report the isolation and structure elucidation of swinholide A (1) and one new macrolide, swinholide J (2). Swinholide J is an unprecedented asymmetric 44-membered dilactone with an epoxide functionality in...
Imbricatolic acid was isolated from the methanolic extract of the fresh ripe berries of Juniperus communis (Cupressaceae) together with sixteen known compounds and a new dihydrobenzofuran lignan glycoside named juniperoside A. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and by comparison with the spectral data reported in literature....
Two unprecedented cyclic peptides, solomonamides A and B, were isolated from the marine sponge Theonella swinhoei. The structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR analysis and high-resolution mass spectrometry. A combined approach, involving Marfey's method, QM J based analysis, and DFT J/(13)C calculations, was used for...
Two unprecedented cyclic peptides, solomonamides A and B, were Isolated from the marine sponge Theonella swinhoel. The structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR analysis and high-resolution mass spectrometry. A combined approach, involving Marfey's method, QM J based analysis, and DFT J/C-13 calculations, was used for e...
The finding of new PXR modulators as potential leads for treatment of human disorders characterized by dysregulation of innate immunity and with inflammation is of wide interest. In this paper, we report the identification of the first example of natural marine PXR agonists, solomonsterols A and B, from a Theonella swinhoei sponge. The structures w...
Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive tumor that frequently resists chemotherapy, so the search for new agents for its treatment is of great importance. In the present study, the antiproliferative propensity against human melanoma cell lines of lauroside B (1), a megastigmane glycoside isolated from Laurus nobilis (bay laurel) leaves, was inves...
Two new metabolites, perthamides C and D, have been isolated from the marine sponge Theonella swinhoei. Their structures were determined by interpretation of NMR and ESIMS data. All compounds exhibited in vivo potent anti-inflammatory activity. Biological activity and structural elucidation are reported.
A new phenolic glycoside (E)-4-hydroxycinnamyl alcohol 4-O-(2′-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl)(1″→2′)-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) was isolated and identified from Cucumis melo seeds together with benzyl O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), 3,29-O-dibenzoylmultiflor-8-en-3α,7β,29-triol (3) and 3-O-p-amino-benzoyl-29-O-benzoylmultiflor-8-en-3α,7β,29-triol (4). Their structur...
Investigation of the marine sponge Coscinoderma mathewsi led to the isolation of two novel nitrogen-containing cheilanthane sesterterpenoids, coscinolactams A and B, together with known suvanine. The structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic measurements including NOE experiments to deduce the stereochemistry. The natural compounds, as...
Investigation of the marine sponge Coscinoderma mathewsi led to the isolation of two novel nitrogen-containing cheilanthane sesterterpenoids, coscinolactams A and B, together with known suvanine. The structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic measurements including NOE experiments to deduce the stereochemistry. The natural compounds, as...
Projects
Projects (2)
The identification of natural products (NPs) target proteins is pivotal to understand their mechanism of action, in order to develop molecular probes and/or potential drugs. In the last 15 years, affinity chromatography-coupled to mass spectrometry (AP-MS) has been the top choice technique in the Drug Target Deconvolution field.
Unfortunately, since a chemical modification of the molecule to be investigated is mandatory, AP-MS is not suitable for compounds that do not exhibit properly reactive structural features.
Furthermore, in the absence of information on the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of the analyte, the covalent modification would leave some concerns about whether or not the molecule original bioactivity is retained.
In this scenario, I optimized an alternative Functional Proteomics Drug Target Deconvolution platform, based on two complementary label-free methods, avoiding any chemical modification of the molecules for a proteome-wide profiling of their targetome.
Indeed, this platform takes advantage of both Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS), to identify the target protein(s) of a bioactive molecule, and targeted Limited Proteolysis coupled to Multiple Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry (t-LiP-MRM), for the
characterization of the interaction features between a protein and its ligand, enlightening the protein(s) region(s) directly or distally influenced by the NP binding.
When necessary, AP-MS can be performed in parallel for a stronger evidence of a compound interacting protein(s).
Isolation and characterization of marine natural products, from different species of marine fungi, active against MDRBacteria and useful as a novel surfactants