Bioactive natural products as potential sources of new pharmaceuticals and food supplements

The proposed project foresees investigations of biologically active natural products derived from plants (Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Alliaceae, Polygonaceae and Cupressaceae) and edible fungi as potential drugs and dietary supplements. Detailed chemical, biochemical, microbiological, pharmacological and clinical examinations are planned. Chemical characterization (PCA) important for chemosystematics, and the identification of new compounds is expected. Biochemical analyses will be directed toward antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antiproliferative properties of chemically characterized extracts. Besides the fact that expected results could indicate the most potent extracts for further applications, the results of biochemical investigations should help understanding the mechanisms of the extract activity judged by its chemical composition, but also to confirm (or deny) the role of the oxidative stress in the processes of inflammation, mutation, and carcinogenesis. The foreseen microbiological investigations should point out the antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities of plant and fungal extracts, bacteriophage and/or their enzymes. Furthermore, they could help in identification of new natural antimicrobial agents active even on multiresistant strains. Pharmacological and clinical investigations should provide the final confirmation that the newly selected natural products could be applied in formulating new phytopreparations and dietary supplements.