Chemical and biological studies of medicinal, food, and phytoalimurgic plants

In a global scenario marked by loss of biodiversity, preserving plant resources has become a priority. In this context, this PhD project explored the potential value of medicinal, food, and phytoalimurgic plants by integrating traditional knowledge with innovative approaches. In particular, the study focused on: • Metabolomic and biological investigation of underutilized species, including Hyoseris radiata L. and Atriplex halimus L., leading to the identification of 25 compounds, five of which are reported for the first time, and revealing significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. • Chemical and biological characterization of a Mediterranean seagrass, Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Asch., highlighting its phenolic profile and promising anti-lipidemic effects in vivo. • Valorization of ancient apple varieties (Malus domestica Borkh.) through sustainable approaches, including in vitro callus cultures, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems to improve bioavailability, and metabolomic and chemometric profiling of a large set of ancient cultivars. • Impact of abiotic stimuli, such as light modulation and salinity stress, on metabolite production in fruit crops, demonstrating how environmental factors can enhance nutritional quality and adaptive responses. Overall, this work encourages further investigations into other unexplored treasures within the Mediterranean flora.