Preparazione e valutazione dell'attività biologica di nuovi polifenoli semisintetici.

During recent years a return to the study of medicinal plants is evident with aim to discover new molecules with pharmacological activity, with particular interest to the antioxidants, for example, those that have been proposed as functional ingredients for anti-aging formulations, with the aim to prevent and modulate oxidative damage to the skin. The research group of Prof. Manfredini, studies and acknowledges the active ingredients of natural origin that are already known in the literature to possess healing abilities, in order to chemically modify and evaluate their activities. My PhD project is a part of NTF (Non Timber Forest), which aims to develop supply chain for sustainable raw materials for support of the local economy, moreover, the natural compounds studied, in collaboration with external companies, have been isolated from waste products of different strains.The molecules studied are Verbascoside ( Buddleja davidii cell cultures ), phloridzin, rutin and salicin which are described in the literature for the many benefits of the human health (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, etc. . ). Despite the different activities demonstrated, being very hydrophilic substances, are difficult to be used in vivo because of the reduced cellular uptake as well as for insertion into different pharmaceutical formulations. For this reason we have decided to increase the lipophilicity, by protecting from esterification the multiple hydroxyl groups present in these structures, but leaving free the phenolic component (pharmacophore). For the obtained semisynthetic derivatives, we investigated the relationship structure-activity between the natural compound and its semisynthetic derivative, in particular we evaluated the antioxidant capacity, antimycotic and stability in a formulation. Furthermore, in collaboration with the research group of Prof. Gambari we decided to assess the anti-inflammatory ability of florizina and the semi-synthetic derivative (F2). In addition, in collaboration with Prof. Valacchi we studied the activity of the Verbascoside florizina and their respective derivatives of semi-synthesis, in the process of cutaneous wound healing.