Laura Casu
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Laura Casu |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Life and Environmental Sciences – Drug Sciences Section, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72 | |
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| Phone: | (+ 39) 070 675 8679 office (+ 39) 070 675 8557-8712 (laboratory) |
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| Fax: | (+39) 070 675 8553 | |
| Email: | lcasu@unica.it | |
Research interests
Main research interests include:
- Isolation, structure elucidation and biological screenings of natural products from plants
- Antimicrobial assay.
- Synthesis of new pharmacophores starting from natural bioactive products.
She is interested in metabolites which show cytotoxic-antitumor activity, interaction with cannabinoid and antimicrobial activity. She uses various chromatographic techniques (as CC, VLC, HPLC, GC).
The structure elucidation of natural compounds including one dimensional (1H and 13C NMR, APT) and two dimensional NMR (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, HSQC-TOCSY, HMBC, NOESY, ROESY) and Mass Spectrometry (MS).
The structure elucidation of natural compounds including one dimensional (1H and 13C NMR, APT) and two dimensional NMR (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, HSQC-TOCSY, HMBC, NOESY, ROESY) and Mass Spectrometry (MS).
Biographical information
Laura Casu is Research associate in Medicinal Chemistry at the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences – Drug Sciences Section, University of Cagliari since 2006.
2000: Degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies at the School of Pharmacy of the University of Cagliari (110/110 cum laude).
2001: Qualified as a Pharmacist.
2003: PhD in Chemistry at the School of Chemistry of the University of Cagliari
2004/2005: Winner of a scholarship under the theme: “The carbon subixide in the synthesis of new heterocycles with probable biological activity.”(Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale “Metodologie e Processi Innovativi di Sintesi” C.I.N.M.P.I.S., Bari).
2005: She has conducted research in the group of Prof. Dr. Otto Sticher, Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Applied BioSciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
2005/2006: She won a scholarship with the title: “Studies on the chemical composition of essential oils and plant extracts Sardinian herbs. Analytical separation and recognition of the active ingredients responsible for biological activity ”.
2006: Research associate in Medicinal Chemistry (CHIM 08), at the School of Pharmacy of the University of Cagliari.
2000: Degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies at the School of Pharmacy of the University of Cagliari (110/110 cum laude).
2001: Qualified as a Pharmacist.
2003: PhD in Chemistry at the School of Chemistry of the University of Cagliari
2004/2005: Winner of a scholarship under the theme: “The carbon subixide in the synthesis of new heterocycles with probable biological activity.”(Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale “Metodologie e Processi Innovativi di Sintesi” C.I.N.M.P.I.S., Bari).
2005: She has conducted research in the group of Prof. Dr. Otto Sticher, Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Applied BioSciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
2005/2006: She won a scholarship with the title: “Studies on the chemical composition of essential oils and plant extracts Sardinian herbs. Analytical separation and recognition of the active ingredients responsible for biological activity ”.
2006: Research associate in Medicinal Chemistry (CHIM 08), at the School of Pharmacy of the University of Cagliari.
Teaching
2006-2010: Professor, Laboratory of extractive preparations of drugs (10 CFU, Herbal Science and Technology) (School of Pharmacy, University of Cagliari)
Since 2011: Professor, Laboratory of extractive and synthetic preparations of drugs (9 CFU per CTF) (School of Pharmacy, University of Cagliari)
Selected publications (2008-2013)
- NEMATICIDAL ACTIVITY OF MINT AQUEOUS EXTRACTS AGAINST THE ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA.
Caboni, P. , Saba, M., Tocco, G., Casu, L., Murgia, A., Maxia, A., Menkissoglu-Spiroudi, U., Ntalli, N. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 61 (41), 9784-9788 (2013) - TRADITIONAL MEDICINES AND GLOBALIZATION: CURRENT AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES IN ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY (REVIEW)
Leonti, M. , Casu, L. Frontiers in Pharmacology 4 Article number 92 (2013). - BIOPROSPECTING: EVOLUTIONARY IMPLICATIONS FROM A POST-OLMEC PHARMACOPOEIA AND THE RELEVANCE OF WIDESPREAD TAXA.
Leonti, M. , Cabras, S., Eugenia Castellanos, M., Challenger, A., Gertsch, J., Casu, L. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 147, (1), 92-107 (2013). - SYNTHESIS AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF NON-NATURALLY SUBSTITUTED 4-OXYCOUMARIN DERIVATIVES.
Serra, S. , Chicca, A., Delogu, G., Vázquez-Rodríguez, S., Santana, L., Uriarte, E., Casu, L., Gertsch, J. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 22, (18) 15 5791-5794 (2012). - MILD SYNTHETIC APPROACH TO NOVEL INDOLE-1-CARBINOLS AND PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THEIR CYTOTOXICITY IN HEPATOCARCINOMA CELLS.
Zedda, G., Simbula, G., Begala, M., Pibiri, M., Floris, C., Casu, M., Casu, L., Tocco, G. Archiv der Pharmazie 345, (3) 195-202 (2012) - CYTOTOXIC PHLOROGLUCINOLS FROM THE LEAVES OF MYRTUS COMMUNIS
Cottiglia, F. , Casu, L., Leonti, M., Caboni, P., Floris, C., Busonera, B., Farci, P., Ouhtit, A., Sanna, G. Journal of Natural Products 75, (2) 225-229 (2012) - UNGEREMINE EFFECTIVELY TARGETS MAMMALIAN AS WELL AS BACTERIAL TYPE I AND TYPE II TOPOISOMERASES
Casu, L., Cottiglia, F., Leonti, M., De Logu, A., Agus, E., Tse-Dinh, Y.-C., Lombardo, V., Sissi, C. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 21, (23) 7041-7044 (2011) - 3-ACETYL-2,5-DIARYL-2,3-DIHYDRO-1,3,4-OXADIAZOLES: A NEW SCAFFOLD FOR THE SELECTIVE INHIBITION OF MONOAMINE OXIDASE B
MacCioni, E., Alcaro, S. , Cirilli, R., Vigo, S., Cardia, M.C., Sanna, M.L., Meleddu, R., Yanez, M., Costa, G., Casu, L., Matyus, P., Distinto, S Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 54, (18) 6394-6398 (2011) - BENZOPHENONES FROM THE ROOTS OF THE POPOLUCA AMERINDIAN MEDICINAL PLANT SECURIDACA DIVERSIFOLIA (L.) S.F. BLAKE
Casu, L. , Solinas, M.N. , Saba, A.R. , Cottiglia, F., Caboni, P., Floris, C., Laconi, S., Pompei, R., Leonti, M. Phytochemistry Letters 3, (4) 226-229 (2010) - A CHROMONE FROM SESELI PRAECOX (APIACEAE)
Leonti, M. , Casu, L., Solinas, M.N., Cottiglia, F., Caboni, P., Floris, C., Gertsch, J., Saba, A.R. Natural Product Communications 5, (4) 551-554 (2010) - A PTEROCARPAN FROM THE SEEDS OF BITUMINARIA MORISIANA
Leonti, M., Casu, L., Gertsch, J. Bonsignore, L., Floris, C., Casu, M., Cottiglia, F. Journal of Natural Medicines 64, (3) 354-357 (2010) - THE CAUSAL DEPENDENCE OF PRESENT PLANT KNOWLEDGE ON HERBALS-CONTEMPORARY MEDICINAL PLANT USE IN CAMPANIA (ITALY) COMPARED TO MATTHIOLI (1568)
Leonti, M., Cabras, S., Weckerle, C.S., Solinas, M.N., Casu, L. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 130, (2) 379-391 (2010) - FALCARINOL IS A COVALENT CANNABINOID CB1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST AND INDUCES PRO-ALLERGIC EFFECTS IN SKIN
Leonti, M., Casu, L., Raduner, S., Cottiglia, F., Floris, C., Altmann, K.-H., Gertsch, J. Biochemical Pharmacology 79, (12) 1815-1826 (2010) - A COMPARISON OF MEDICINAL PLANT USE IN SARDINIA AND SICILY- DE MATERIA MEDICA REVISITED?
Leonti M, Casu L, Sanna F, Bonsignore L. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 121, (2), 255-267 (2009)