Ricerc@Sapienza

Professor Antonella Di Sotto’s research activity focuses on the pharmacognosy and toxicology of natural products, with specific interest in pure natural compounds as well as herbal extracts and plant preparations – crude, standardized, optimized, or in mixtures – including the study of their phytocomplexes.
Her research aims to elucidate mechanisms of action, biological activities, health-promoting properties, and safety aspects of natural substances, integrating pharmacological, toxicological, phytochemical and cellular approaches for applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and biotechnological fields.

Her main research lines include:

• Chemopreventive and genoprotective properties of natural compounds and plant preparations against environmental pollutants and toxic agents, with investigation of underlying molecular pathways (oxidative stress, STAT3, Nrf2, H2AX modulation).

• Natural compounds and phytocomplexes as chemosensitizing agents in cancer cell models, alone or in combination with antitumor drugs.

• Pharmacological characterization of medicinal plant extracts, endemic species and plant-derived materials, focusing on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immunomodulatory activities.

• Valorization of agro-food by-products (e.g. pomegranate peel, eggplant peel, goji leaves) as innovative sources of nutraceuticals.

• Toxicological evaluation of natural products, including genotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, drug–herb interactions and allergenic potential.

• Development of cellular models and innovative assays for toxicological and pharmacological studies.

• Sustainable and innovative strategies for the cultivation of medicinal plants, including non-conventional growing systems and modulation of bioactive metabolites.

• Nanotechnologies and delivery systems to enhance the bioavailability and efficacy of natural substances.

Her scientific activity is supported by a wide network of national and international collaborations involving universities, research centres and industrial partners, including institutions such as the National Research Council (CNR), the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), and several European and non-European academic laboratories.
These collaborations foster a multidisciplinary environment integrating pharmacology, toxicology, chemistry, biotechnology, agronomic sciences and regulatory science.