Born in Carmagnola (TO), September 1, 1955 and graduated at the University of Torino in 1979. University Lecturer in 1983 (University of Torino); Associated Professor in 1998 (University of Torino); Full Professor from 2000 to present at the Università del Piemonte Orientale, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Visiting scientist at the University of Gent (Belgium) in 1985 (Laboratory of Organic Synthesis, Prof. Pierre De Clercq).
Editor in Chief of the Journal Fitoterapia and member of the Advisory Board of European Journal of Organic Chemistry, Phytochemistry Letters, The Open Natural Products Journal, Natural Products Communications and PharmaNutrition.
The research activity of Prof. Appendino takes inspiration from natural products to address problems in organic chemistry (new synthetic methodologies), cell biology (novel mechanisms of activity), and medicine (new drug leads).
The following lines of research are currently pursued:
Brain lipidomics: identification, synthesis and chemical modification of bioactive endolipids (endocannabinoids, endovanilloids, endogenous eicosanoids) and their natural products mimics (cannabinoids, capsaicinoids)
Sensory chemoreception: Synthesis of molecular probes to explore various classes of TRP-(TRPV1, TRPM8, TRPA1, TRPV4) and bitter (hTAS2R family) receptors, and their pharmacological exploitation.
Anticancer and antiviral chemotherapy: Synthesis of molecules aimed at various oncological end-points (tubulin, PgP, NF-B, PKC) and at achieving HIV de-latentization (phorboids).
Synthetic methodologies: chemoselective modification of polyfunctional compounds (polyphenolics, phenolic alcohols, phenolic amines). Development of new protocols of functional group modification.
Bioprospecting: secondary metabolites from niche area (Sardinia, Mediterranean Alps) and from medicinal plants.
Secondary metabolites from edible plants and spices: identification of neutraceutical agents from local food plants.
Prof. Appendino has elucidated the structure of over 300 new natural products, and has published over 350 peer-reviewed articles and 11 book chapters on the chemistry and bioactivity of natural products. His distinctions include the Rhône-Poulenc Rorer Award of the Phytochemical Society of Europe for his studies on terpenoids (1991), the Quilico Medal of the Italian Chemical Society for his studies on bioactive natural products (2009), and the Bruker Award of the Phytochemical Society of Europe (2014).