Natural products represent a traditionally very important source of novel drugs and also a relevant inspiration for the synthesis of novel molecules of pharmaceutical interest. Recently, interest in natural bioactive compounds has raised, together with the need to identify new environmentally friendly extraction methods to obtain purified bioactive molecules. In this framework, our aim is to study the capacity of natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) - which are emerging as new green solvents able to replace current harsh organic solvents ¿ to extract polyphenols from plants. Polyphenols are well known antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective compounds, hence these extracts will be tested for their capacity to counteract the neurodegenerative effects of Beta Amyloid (Ab) in cellular and animal models of Alzheimer¿s disease (AD).
As raw materials we will use various ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant of the Brassicaceae family, known for its high content of bioactive molecules such as polyphenols, glucosinolates, carotenoids and vitamins. After an initial characterization of the extracts by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, the extracts will be tested in cellular models of neurodegeneration, i.e. neuronal (SH-SY5Y) or microglial (BV2) cells to assess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, respectively. The extracts will also be tested in a Drosophila model of AD, to evaluate effects on lifespan and on climbing ability of the flies. The extracts will also be tested for their antiviral activity in a cellular model of HPV infection.
