Chemistry and in vitro Bioactivity of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Natural products are a rich source of bioactive compounds, with a significant number of commercially available drugs derived from them. These molecules, known as secondary metabolites, are produced by plants for defence against predators and for protection against extreme weather conditions. Their unique structures and activities make them valuable starting points for drug discovery. The study of natural products involves many fields, including chemistry. Natural products chemistry is a distinct area of chemical research and plays an important role in pre-clinical and clinical studies for drug discovery research.

In pharmaceutical research, natural products are essential because they provide prospective pathways for the discovery of novel medicinal molecules and have yielded excellent outcomes.

Natural products possess diverse pharmacophores, stereochemistry, and metabolite-like properties. Their chemical diversity provides potential for discovering novel compounds with varied properties. Unique biological activities, synergy, and complexity make them valuable for addressing disease targets and combating drug resistance.

During this research project, students will perform the isolation of secondary metabolites from various plant materials/natural products. Students will learn how to select the most appropriate techniques and solvents to isolate the desired groups of compounds, while ensuring, at the same time, the highest recovery of secondary metabolites. Extracts will be tested for their total phenolic and flavonoid content, as well as for their antioxidant activity.

This hub will enhance students’ research skills, foster collaboration among EU-CONEXUS partners, and promote innovation in the use of natural products for health applications.

General learning outcomes

• Adherence to laboratory safety protocols.
• Select and apply correct methodologies for the extraction of secondary metabolites.
• Learn to create hypotheses and design experiments to evaluate the bioactivity of the extracts.
• Analyse and evaluate experimental results to draw logical conclusions.

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