Nadia Benedetto

“Turning grape waste into waist management: “wine” not? “

-Obesity is an increasingly prevalent multifactorial disorder linked to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress that requires urgent intervention. Grape pomace, a by-product of winemaking typically regarded as waste, is actually rich in bioactive compounds like polyphenols that hold promising anti-obesity properties. Following the principles of the circular economy, my research project wants to study how grape pomace extract can be exploited in obesity prevention by investigating its antioxidant activity and ability to interfere with adipogenesis in both in vitro cell models (2D and 3D) and in vivo studies. The findings will support the development of a food supplement aimed at improving human health by leveraging its anti-adipogenic and metabolic effects.

How my position is funded

-My PhD scholarships is funded by INPS (Istituto nazionale della previdenza sociale).

My motivations

-During my experimental master's thesis and a brief experience at a research center, I developed a deep interest in research, especially regarding the biological activity of natural substances. This experience made me realize that a PhD would provide me with the tools and resources necessary to explore this topic in depth. As for my expectations after obtaining the degree, I aspire to continue doing research, with the goal of contributing original insights that will enrich both knowledge and practice in my field of study.

A day in a PhD student’s life

-My typical PhD day begins with an early morning routine, where I listen to music on the bus, setting a positive tone for the day ahead. Upon reaching the University, I meet my colleagues for a coffee, which is essential for motivating me to begin my work. Once energized, I monitor cells in culture, which is what I care about the most. I then dive into my experiments, focusing on the practical aspects of my research.

In the afternoon, I prefer to shift my attention to data analysis. I also engage in bibliography research and writing articles, which I find less enjoyable but necessary for my academic progress.

My events:

SEMINARS:

-18/01/2022- Nutrient Sensing by the Brain, Sabrina Diano PhD

-18/05/2022- Natural products from seagrasses. Relator:Professor Christian Zidorn

-20/04/2022 - Intracellular Ca2+ signalling in endothelial progenitor cells: physiological implications and therapeutic perspectives

-23-27/05/2022 - Trends in Natural Products Research: A Young Scientists’ Meeting

-14/06/2022 Meeting conclusivo del progetto “ALIMINTEGRA”

-18-22/07/2022 - Second Edition of the international Summer School Physiology and Biophysics of water and ion channels

-7-9/09/2022 - 117° Congresso della Società Botanica Italiana onlus

-14/12/2022 I International Workshop PAPRIKANET

-29/12/2022 - 3D Cell Culture Techniques; For Spheroid and Organoid Applications

-16/02/23 Two stories from the Laboratory of Immune Regulations: Cell therapies for male infertility and Capsaicin – a modulator of immune response

-27/02/23 Dagli scarti alimentari alle bioplastiche

-31/03/23 Dall'invenzione della carta all'iPhone: Come le nanotecnologie hanno cambiato il mondo” ( I Lincei per la scuola)

-17/04/23 Materiali per la Medicina ( I Lincei per la scuola)

-21/04/23 Motori molecolari: realtà o fantascienza? ( I Lincei per la scuola)

-28/04/23 Nanotecnologie per la medicina di precisione ( I Lincei per la scuola)

-5/4/23 - 19/4/23 - 27/4/23 - 11/5/23 Target emergenti nel drug discovery

-2-7/07/2023 International Summer School on Natural Products 5th Edition

-28/09/2023 Smart Start Orientation QuantStudio 5

-11/05/2023 DNA 70th celebration Thermo Fisher Scientific

-Badge-Carrer Tool- Competenze Trasversali – 2022/23

-Badge-Excel dalle basi all’uso avanzato - Competenze Trasversali – 2022/23

-01/03/24 Naturale e sintetico: una versione contemporanea dello Yin e Yang

-18/03/2024; 25 marzo 2024; 08 aprile 2024;15 aprile 2024, ciclo di seminari: Chemorecezione e sviluppo di biosensori innovativi e relative applicazioni

-10/04/2024 - Gli straordinari poteri rigenerativi del sistema nervoso periferico

-07/05/2024 - Tendenze e Prospettive Emergenti Nell’Ambito di Applicazioni Sostenibili per l’Ingegneria Tissutale e la Medicina Rigenerativa

-10/05/2024 - Evoluzione e struttura dei carriers mitocondriali

- 22/05/2024 - Relazioni struttura-funzione e identificazione di carriers mitocondriali

CONFERENCES:

Faraone I, Lela L, Russo D, Benedetto N, Ponticelli M, Carlucci V, Vassallo A, Caddeo C, Ostuni A, Bisaccia F, Fanelli F, Milella L. A scarlet food: Solanum aethiopicum L. liposomal extract against oxidative stress. Trends in Natural Products Research: A PSE Young Scientists’ Meeting 2022. Crete, Greece.

Benedetto N., Ponticelli M., Lela L., Faraone I., Russo D., Moles M., Milella L.. Effect of Gentiana lutea L. bitter compounds on enteroendocrine secretion as novel strategy against Obesity. 117° Congresso della Società Botanica Italiana onlus, 7-9 Settembre 2022, Bologna, Italy. (Poster)

Benedetto, N., Carlucci, V., Faraone, I., Lela, L., Mangieri, C. Russo, D., Milella, L. “The red gold of Basilicata”: Capsicum annuum L. cv Senise extract as a novel source for the obesity treatment. I° congresso nazionale della NUSA. Nutrizione chetogenica. La ricerca - la terapia, Avellino, 8-10/03/2023. (Oral presentation)

Benedetto, N., Lela, L., Russo, D., Carlucci, V., Mangieri, C., Veronico, C., Faraone, I., Ponticelli, M., Milella, L. The promising future of Vitis vinifera L. by-products for the development of anti-obesity food supplement. International Summer School on Natural Products 5th Edition, Maratea, 2-7/07/2023. (Oral presentation)

Benedetto, N. The promising future of Vitis vinifera L. by-products for the development of anti-obesity food supplement. III WORKSHOP PAPRIKANET, Potenza, 15/12/2023 (Oral presentation)

My publications

Benedetto, N., Carlucci, V., Faraone, I., Lela, L., Ponticelli, M., Russo, D., ... & Milella, L. (2023). An Insight into Citrus medica Linn.: A Systematic Review on Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities. Plants, 12(12), 2267. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122267

Citrus medica Linn., a plant with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, has been used in medicine for centuries. A systematic review of its chemical composition and biological properties aims to inspire new research and increase its curative application.

Castronuovo, D., Cardone, L., Mariagrazia, C., Lela, L., Benedetto, N., Carlucci, V., Candido, V. (2023). Productivity and quality of different tomato cultivars under intercropping system with maize and dry farming conditions in Southern Italy. ITALUS HORTUS, 30, 3-16. https://doi.org/10.26353/j.itahort/2023.1.0316

The study reveals that three local tomato cultivars (Arsicolo, Crovarese, and San Marzano) and a commercial cultivar (Datterino) can be cultivated without irrigation and intercropped with maize in Southern Italy, with Arsicolo showing the best fruit yield and paste production.

Lerose, V., Ponticelli, M., Benedetto, N., Carlucci, V., Lela, L., Tzvetkov, N. T., & Milella, L. (2024). Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, a Potential Source of Phytochemicals for Treating Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review. Plants, 13(6), 771. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060771

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, a traditional Indian medicinal plant, has potential therapeutic effects against neurodegenerative diseases. A systematic review reveals its potential in treating or preventing these diseases, highlighting its specialized metabolites' potential.

Benedetto, N., Mangieri, C., De Biasio, F., Carvalho, R. F., Milella, L., & Russo, D. (2024). Malus pumila Mill. cv Annurca apple extract might be therapeutically useful against oxidative stress and patterned hair loss. FEBS Open bio. https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.13805

The study investigates the potential of Annurca apple extract in preventing Patterned Hair Loss (PHL) by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity and stimulating hair growth-related factors in human follicle dermal papilla cells, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits.

Giardina, A., Palmieri, R., Ponticelli, M., Antonelli, C., Carlucci, V., Colangelo, M., Benedetto, N., Di Fazio, A., Milella, L. (2024). Is a Low Dosage of Medical Cannabis Effective for Treating Pain Related to Fibromyalgia? A Pilot Study and Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(14), 4088. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13144088

A pilot study investigated the use of medical cannabis to treat fibromyalgia. Results showed a decrease in pain intensity and significant improvement in physical and mental state. The study suggests that medical cannabis could be an alternative therapy for patients who do not respond to conventional pharmacological therapy.

Parisi, V., Santoro, V., Faraone, I., Benedetto, N., Vassallo, A., De Tommasi, N., Milella, L., Nesticò, A, Maselli, G., Fadda, AM & Caddeo, C. (2024). Sonchus asper (L.) Hill extracts: phytochemical characterization and exploitation of its biological activities by loading into nanoformulation. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, 1416539. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13142269

The study explores the potential of Sonchus asper (L.) Hill as a wild edible plant, both in its raw extract form and as a nanoformulated product. It aims to promote traditional dishes, conserve biodiversity, and enhance economic profits. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses were conducted to characterize the metabolite profile of raw and cooked leaf extracts. The antioxidant activity and hypoglycaemic effect was evaluated. The findings suggest commercialization could improve rural and urban communities' well-being and generate economic returns for landowners.