Research
Medicinal Chemistry beyond Natural Products
Chemical Research on Natural Products and different aspects related to them, from the HPLC/MS analysis of natural extracts, to total synthesis and synthetic modification of natural products, all oriented to identify the biological activity and boost medicinal chemistry.
Our laboratory is also focalized in different type of works like the development of smart synthetic methodologies and synthesis of novel natural products-inspired and non-ispired ligands for several targets.
We are always open to new collaborations and challenging projects, feel free to contact us.
Full List of Publications with Links
39. Mari, M., Lanthier, C.; Proj, M.; Donckele, E. J.; Josa-Culleré, L.; Goncharenko, K.; Leroy, S.; Matagne, B.; McKenna, S. M.; Borsari, C. "Boosting the Impact of EFMC Young Scientists Network Through the Creation of Working Groups" ChemMedChem 2024, Early View. Link
38. Retini, M.; Sisti, A.; Olivieri, D.; Mari, M.; Bartoccini, F.; Piersanti, G. "Practical and Selective Syntheses of S-Acyl and N-Acyl Glutathiones with N-Acyl Imidazoles in Water" Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2024, 27, e20240025. Link
37. Micucci, M.; Stella Bartoletti, A.; Abdullah, F. O.; Burattini, S.; Versari, I.; Canale, M.; D’Agostino, F.; Roncarati, D.; Piatti, D.; Sagratini, G.; Caprioli, G.; Mari, M.; Retini, M.; Faenza, I.; Battistelli, M.; Salucci, S. "Paradigm Shift in Gastric Cancer Prevention: Harnessing the Potential of Aristolochia olivieri Extract" Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(21), 16003. Link
36. Bidgoli, R. D.; Abdullah, F. O.; Budriesi, R.; Mattioli, L. B.; Spadoni, G.; Mari, M.; Micucci, M. "Essential Oil Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Eucalyptus largiflorens F. Muell" Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023, 32 (4), 3043-3052. Link
35. Magurano, F.; Micucci, M.; Nuzzo, D.; Baggieri, M.; Picone, P.; Gioacchini, S.; Fioravanti, R.; Bucci, P.; Kojouri, M.; Mari, M.; Retini, M.; Budriesi, R.; Mattioli, L. B.; Corazza, I.; Di Liberto, V.; Todaro, L.; Giuseppetti, R.; D’Ugo, E.; Marchi, A.; Mecca, M.; D’Auria, M. "A potential host and virus targeting tool against COVID-19: Chemical characterization, antiviral, cytoprotective, antioxidant, respiratory smooth muscle relaxant effects of Paulownia tomentosa Steud" Biomed. Pharmacother. 2023, 158, 114083. Link
34. Mari, M.; Elisi, G. M.; Bedini, A.; Lucarini, S.; Retini, M.; Lucini, V.; Scaglione, F.; Vincenzi, F.; Varani, K.; Castelli, R.; Mor, M.; Rivara, S.; Spadoni, G. "2-Arylmelatonin analogues: Probing the 2-phenyl binding pocket of melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptors" Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2022, 243, 114762. Link
33. Ferlegnhi, F.; Mari, M.*; Gobbi, G.; Elisi, G. M.; Mor, M.; Rivara, S.; Vacondio, F.; Bartolucci, S.; Bedini, A.; Fanini, F.; Spadoni, G. "N-(Anilinoethyl)amide Melatonergic Ligands with Improved Water Solubility and Metabolic Stability" ChemMedChem 2021, 19, 3071-3082. Link
32. Coppari, S.; Colomba, M.; Fraternale, D.; Brinkmann V..; Romeo, M.; Rocchi, M.B.L..; Di Giacomo, B.; Mari, M.; Guidi, L.; Ramakrishna, S.; Ventura, N.; Albertini, M. C. "Antioxidant and anti‐inflammaging ability of prune (Prunus spinosa l.) extract result in improved wound healing efficacy" Antioxidants 2021, 10, 374. Link
31. Crinelli, R.; Zara, C.; Galluzzi, L.; Buffi, G.; Ceccarini, C.; Smietana, M.; Mari, M.; Magnani, M.; Fraternale A. "Activation of NRF2 and ATF4 signaling by the pro-glutathione molecule I-152, a co-drug of N-acetyl-cysteine and cysteamine" Antioxidants 2021, 10, 1-23, 175. Link
30. Tiboni, M.; Coppari, S.; Casettari, L.; Gescini, M.; Colomba, M.; Fraternale, D.; Gorassini, A.; Verardo, G.; Ramakrishna, S.; Guidi, L.; Di Giacomo, B.; Mari, M.; Molinaro, R.; Albertini, M. C. "Prunus spinosa extract loaded in biomimetic nanoparticles evokes in vitro anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities" Nanomaterials 2021, 11, 1-14, 36. Link
29. Goncharenko, K.; Mari, M.; Auberson, Y. P.; Matagne, B.. "The Young Scientists Network: How the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC) Became Young Again" ChemMedChem 2020, 15, 2359-2362. Link
28. Bartoccini, F.; Mari, M.; Retini, M.; Galarini, R.; Bartolucci, S.; Piersanti, G. "Single-step Synthesis of Dehydroalanine Derivatives via a Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Multicomponent Reaction" ChemistrySelect 2020, 5, 3330-3336. Link
27. Sabatini, L.; Fraternale, D.; Di Giacomo, B.; Mari, M.; Albertini, M. C.; Gordillo, B.; Rocchi, M. B. L.; Sisti, D.; Coppari, S.; Semprucci, F.; Guidi, L.; Colomba, M. "Chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of Prunus spinosa L. fruit ethanol extract" J. Func. Foods 2020, 67, 103885. Link
26. Retini, M.; Bartolucci, S.; Batoccini, F.; Mari, M.; Piersanti, G. "Concise and Convergent Enantioselective Total Syntheses of (+)- and (-)-Fumimycin" J. Org. Chem. 2019, 84, 12221-12227. Link
25. Bartoccini, F.; Mari, M.; Retini, M.; Fraternale, A.; Piersanti, G. "Large-Scale Preparation of N-Butanoyl-L-glutathione (C4-GSH)" Org. Process Res. Dev. 2019, 23, 2069-2073. Link
24. De Bellis, R.; Piacentini, M. P.; Meli, M. A.; Mattioli, M.; Menotta, M.; Mari, M.; Valentini, L.; Palomba, L.; Desideri, D.; Chiarantini, L. "In vitro effects on calcium oxalate crystallization kinetics and crystal morphology of an aqueous extract from Ceterach officinarum: analysis of a potential antilithiatic mechanism" Plos One, 2019, 14, e0218734. Link
23. Bartoccini, F.; Venturi, S.; Retini, M.; Mari, M.; Piersanti, G. "Total Synthesis of (-)-Clavicipitic Acid via γ,γ-Dimethylallyltryptophan (DMAT) and Chemoselective C−H Hydroxylation" J. Org. Chem. 2019, 84, 12, 8027-8034. Link
22. Ricciutelli, M.; Moretti, S.; Galarini, R.; Sagratini, G.; Mari, M.; Lucarini, S.; Vittori, S.; Caprioli, G. "Identification and quantification of new isomers of isopropyl-malic acid in wine by LC-IT and LC-Q-Orbitrap" Food Chem. 2019, 294, 390-396. Link
21. Albertini, M.C.; Fraternale, D.; Semprucci, F.; Cecchini, S.; Colomba, M.; Rocchi, M.B.L.; Sisti, D.; Di Giacomo, B.; Mari, M.; Sabatini, L.; Cesaroni, L.; Balsamo, M.; Guidi, L. "Bioeffects of Prunus spinosa L. fruit extract on proliferation activity and phenotypic plasticity of Trichoplax adhaerens Schulze, 1883 (Placozoa)" PeerJ 2019, 7, e6789. Link
20. Bedini, A.; Fraternale, A.; Crinelli, R.; Mari, M.; Bartolucci, S.; Chiarantini, L.; Spadoni, G. "Design, synthesis and biological activity of hydrogen peroxide responsive arylboronate melatonin hybrids" Chem. Res. Toxicol. 2019, 32, 100-112. Link
19. Ninfali, P.; Mari, M.; Meli M. A.; Roselli, C.; Antonini, E. "In vitro bioaccessibility of Avenanthramides in cookies made with malted oat flours" Int. J. Food. Sci. Technol. 2019, 54, 1558-1565. Link
18. Bartoccini, F.; Mari, M.; Retini, M.; Bartolucci, S.; Piersanti, G. "Organocatalytic Aza-Friedel–Crafts/Lactonization Domino Reaction of Naphthols and Phenols with 2- Acetamidoacrylate to Naphtho- and Benzofuranones Bearing a Quaternary Center at the C3 Position" J. Org. Chem. 2018, 83, 12275-12283. Link
17. Ciccolini, C.; Mari, M.; Lucarini, S.; Mantellini, F.; Piersanti, G.; Favi, G. "Polycyclic Indolines by Acid-Mediated Intramolecular Dearomative Strategy: Reversing Indole Reactivity in the Pictet‒Spengler-Type Reaction" Adv. Synth. Catal. 2018, 360, 4060-4067. (Selected as Very Important Publication (VIP) by the Journal) Link
16. Spadoni, G.; Bedini, A.; Furiassi, L.; Mari, M.; Mor, M.; Scalvini, L.; Lodola, A.; Lucini, V.; Dugnani, S.; Scaglione, F.; Piomelli, D.; Jung, K.-M.; Supuran, C.; Lucarini, L.; Durante, M.; Masini, E.; Rivara, S. "Identification of Bivalent Ligands with Melatonin Receptor Agonist and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) Inhibitory Activity That Exhibit Ocular Hypotensive Effect in the Rabbit" J. Med. Chem. 2018, 61, 7902-7916. Link
15. Di Gregorio, G.; Mari, M.; Bartolucci, S.; Bartoccini, F.; Piersanti, G. "Divergent reactions of oxindoles with amino alcohols via the borrowing hydrogen process: oxindole ring opening vs. C3 alkylation" Org. Chem. Front. 2018, 5, 1622-1627. Link
14. Rivara, S.; Scalvini, L.; Lodola, A.; Mor, M.; Caignard, D.; Delagrange, P.; Lucini, V.; Scaglione, F.; Furiassi, L.; Mari, M.; Lucarini, S.; Bedini, A.; Spadoni, G. "Tetrahydroquinoline ring as a versatile bioisostere of tetralin for the preparation of melatonin receptor ligands” J. Med. Chem. 2018, 61, 3726-3737. Link
13. Scarpa, E. S.; Mari, M.; Antonini, E.; Palma, F.; Ninfali, P. "Natural and synthetic avenanthramides activate caspases 2, 8, 3 and downregulate hTERT, MDR1 and COX-2 genes in CaCo-2 and Hep3B cancer cells" Food Funct. 2018, 9, 2913-2921. Link
12. Salucci, S.; Burattini, S.; Buontempo, F.; Orsini, E.; Furiassi, L.; Mari, M.; Lucarini, S.; Martelli, A. M.; Falcieri, E. "Marine bisindole alkaloid: a potential apoptotic inducer in cancer cells" Eur. J. Histochem. 2018, 62:2881, 7-12. Link
11. Scarpa, E. S.; Antonini, E.; Palma, F.; Mari, M.; Ninfali, P. "Antiproliferative activity of vitexin-2-O-xyloside and avenanthramides on CaCo-2 and HepG2 cancer cells occurs through apoptosis induction and reduction of pro-survival mechanisms" Eur. J. Nutr. 2018, 57, 1381-1395. Link
10. Di Gregorio, G.; Mari, M.; Bartoccini, F.; Piersanti, G. "Iron-Catalyzed Direct C3-Benzylation of Indoles with Benzyl Alcohols" J. Org. Chem. 2017, 82, 8769-8775. Link
9. Bartolucci, S.; Bartoccini, F.; Mari, M.; Piersanti, G. "A simple, modular synthesis of C4- substituted tryptophan derivatives" Org. Biomol. Chem. 2016, 14, 10095-10100. Link
8. Bartolucci, S.; Mari, M.; Di Gregorio, G.; Piersanti, G. "Observations concerning the synthesis of tryptamine homologues and branched tryptamine derivatives via the borrowing hydrogen process: synthesis of psilocin, bufotenin, and serotonin" Tetrahedron 2016, 72, 2233-2238. Link
7. Spadoni, G.; Bedini, A.; Lucarini, S.; Mari, M.; Caignard, D.-H.; Boutin, J.; Delagrange, P.; Lucini, V.; Scaglione, F.; Lodola, A.; Zanardi, F.; Pala, D.; Mor, M.; Rivara, S. "Highly potent and selective MT2 melatonin receptor full agonists from conformational analysis of 1-benzyl- 2- acylaminomethyl-tetrahydroquinolines" J. Med. Chem. 2015, 58, 7512-7525. Link
6. Bartolucci, S.; Mari, M.; Bedini, A.; Piersanti, G.; Spadoni, G. "Iridium-Catalyzed Direct Synthesis of Tryptamine Derivatives from Indoles: Exploiting N-Protected β-Amino Alcohols as Alkylating Agents" J. Org. Chem. 2015, 80, 3217-3222. Link
5. Mari, M.; Lucarini, S.; Bartoccini, F.; Piersanti, G.; Spadoni, G. "Synthesis of 2-Substituted Tryptophans via a C3- to C2-Alkyl Migration" Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 1991-1998. Link
4. Mari, M.; Tassoni, A.; Lucarini, S.; Fanelli, M.; Piersanti, G.; Spadoni, G. "Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Bisindolization of α-Amido Acetals: Synthesis and Anti-cancer Activity of Bis(indolyl)ethanamino Derivatives" Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2014, 18, 3822-3830. Link
3. Bartoccini, F.; Casoli, M.; Mari, M.; Piersanti, G. "Synthesis of (±)-cis-Clavicipitic Acid by a Rh(I)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Imine Reaction" J. Org. Chem. 2014, 79, 3255-3259. Link
2. Lucarini, S.; Mari, M.; Piersanti, G.; Spadoni, G. "Organocatalyzed coupling of indoles with dehydroalanine esters: synthesis of bis(indolyl)propanoates and indol-acrylates" RSC Adv. 2013, 3, 19135-19143. Link
1. Mari, M.; Bartoccini, F.; Piersanti G. "Synthesis of (-) epi-Indolactam V by an intramolecular Buchwald-Hartwig C-N Coupling Cyclization Reaction" J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, 7727-7734. Link