Bioprospecting Italian biodiversity for identifying potential neuroprotective agents

Area of Science:

• Natural product chemistry
• Neuropharmacology
• Biodiversity conservation

Background:

• Neurodegenerative diseases pose a significant global health challenge.
• Current treatments offer only symptomatic relief, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
• Natural biodiversity is a rich source for discovering multi-target compounds for drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Italian plant biodiversity for novel neuroprotective agents.
• To identify plant extracts that inhibit acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase, key targets in neurodegenerative diseases.
• To support bioprospecting as a sustainable strategy for discovering new drug leads.

Main Methods:

• Metabolomic screening of 27 Italian plant extracts.
• Evaluation of extracts for acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibition.
• Multi-parameter screening and metabolite identification.

Main Results:

• Adenophora liliifolia and Carissa macrocarpa were identified as the most promising species.
• Most identified metabolites demonstrated activity against acetylcholinesterase and/or tyrosinase.
• The bioactivities of the extracts were supported by their metabolite profiles.

Conclusions:

• Systematic bioprospecting of underexplored plant biodiversity is a powerful approach for neuroprotection.
• Adenophora liliifolia and Carissa macrocarpa extracts are potential candidates for neurodegenerative disease therapies.
• Integrating traditional knowledge with modern analytical techniques can yield valuable therapeutic leads.