DIGITALIS

"The genus Digitalis: Molecular taxonomy, preservation, active constituents and therapeutic applications"

Coordinatore	FRIEDRICH-ALEXANDER-UNIVERSITAT ERLANGEN NURNBERG    more  Organization address address: SCHLOSSPLATZ 4 city: ERLANGEN postcode: 91054 contact info Titolo: Ms. Nome: Franziska Cognome: Müller Email: send email Telefono: +49 9131 85 26474 Fax: +49 9131 85 26239
Nazionalità Coordinatore	Germany [DE]
Totale costo	172˙200 €
EC contributo	172˙200 €
Programma	FP7-PEOPLE Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Code Call	FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IRSES
Funding Scheme	MC-IRSES
Anno di inizio	2012
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2012-05-01   -   2016-04-30

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	FRIEDRICH-ALEXANDER-UNIVERSITAT ERLANGEN NURNBERG  Organization address address: SCHLOSSPLATZ 4 city: ERLANGEN postcode: 91054 contact info Titolo: Ms. Nome: Franziska Cognome: Müller Email: send email Telefono: +49 9131 85 26474 Fax: +49 9131 85 26239	DE (ERLANGEN)	coordinator	56˙700.00
2	FUNDACAO DA FACULDADE DE CIENCIAS DA UNIVERSIDADE DE LISBOA  Organization address address: CAMPO GRANDE EDIFICIO C1 PISO 3 city: LISBOA postcode: 1749016 contact info Titolo: Prof. Nome: Ana Cristina Cognome: Silva Da Figueiredo Email: send email Telefono: 35121750257 Fax: 351218000000	PT (LISBOA)	participant	65˙100.00
3	ABANT IZZET BAYSAL UNIVERSITESI  Organization address address: GOLKOY KAMPUSU city: BOLU postcode: 14280 contact info Titolo: Prof. Nome: Ekrem Cognome: Gürel Email: send email Telefono: 903743000000 Fax: 903743000000	TR (BOLU)	participant	50˙400.00

Mappa

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The topics of this joint exchange programme are all related to a specific plant genus of commercial interest and its taxonomy, the propagation and investigation of endangered species of this plant genus, the natural products used in medicine occurring in Digitalis plants, and the isolation, structure elucidation and biological testing of some of the rare but pharmacological relevant cardenolides. Objectives are (1) Taxonomically critical Digitalis species and subspecies will be (re)-examined by molecular taxonomy, using the progesterone 5β-reductase gene as a molecular marker, and chemotaxonomy by cardenolide profiling, using HPLC, (2) plant tissue cultures of endangered Digitalis species will be established and used in plant propagation. Hairy root cultures of selected species will be established for fundamental studies on cardenolide formation, (3) the structures of important cardenolides will be elucidated by NMR and bulk quantities of selected cardenolides will be produced, (4) antiviral and antiproliferative effects of individual cardenolides will be studied. Cardenolides will be screened for their pharmacological profiles (potential and selectivity). The objectives aim at intensifying circumstantial ongoing co-operations and exchange of materials and people in a more reliable and coordinated way. The profiles of expertise of the various partners are complementary and researchers from Turkey, Brazil, Germany and Portugal are involved.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

The foxglove or Digitalis is well-known for treatment of heart conditions. European research is extending its therapeutic potential as well as looking at propagation of endangered Digitalis species.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Cardenolides extracted from various plant sources, when adapted or biotransformed due to their extreme toxicity, possess therapeutic potential. The EU-funded project DIGITALIS has isolated potentially therapeutic cardenolides and investigated the molecular basis of their action.

The DIGITALIS team have successfully transformed several cardiac glycosides from the species Digitalis lanta (D. lanta). There are more than 100 different cardenolides from Digitalis species. However, the team looked specifically at species in Turkey, four of which are endemic to Anatolia. This is important as only a limited number of cardenolides have been identified in these plants. Discovery of new plant secondary metabolites for biotherapy would be potentially ground-breaking.

During cardenolide biosynthesis, intermediate molecules include progesterone compounds. Using deuterium-labelled solvents, the scientists traced and identified the members of the pathway. Nuclear magnetic resonance elucidated the molecular structure of pregnane, a parent molecule of progesterone.

The DIGITALIS research team also focused on other sources of cardenolides such as enone 1,4-reductases from several Brassica species. Scientists have isolated the genes responsible for encoding and these may be used in the future as markers in taxonomic studies.

Project researchers anticipate many uses of DIGITALIS results when the initiative is completed. Work will rescue endangered Digitalis species and enable gaps in taxonomy to be filled. There is also a focus on identification of new anticancer compounds from biotransformation as well as enabling bulk production of reference compounds for preclinical studies.