Prof. Dessì research activity has been focused for more than twenty years on free radical pathology, with particular attention to oxidation of lipids and antioxidant action.

Prof. Dessì has broad experience in the evaluation of the oxidative damage to the lipid fraction both in biological samples and in food material and in the study of active metabolites present in the Mediterranean flora. The main research interest in the nutritional field of the group coordinated by Prof. Dessì is the assessment of the biopotency of dietary antioxidant factors and their mechanism of action in relation to those pathological conditions strictly correlated to oxidative stress, as cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Maria Assunta Dessì is Full Professor of General Pathology at the Faculty of Science and Head of the Department of Experimental Biology; within the Department she coordinates the research activity and didactics in the Section of Experimental Pathology. She carries out her teaching activity on General and Environmental Pathology for the undergraduate students of Experimental Biology and on Nutrition Pathology for the postgraduate students of Experimental and Applied Biology (Diet and Health). She is a member of the teaching body of the Master on “Valorisation of agroindustrial products” and Professional training courses as the IFTS course “ Technician for the self-control of healthiness on alimentary productions”.

Dessì M.A., Deiana M., Day W.B., Rosa A., Banni S. and Corongiu F.P. Oxidative stability of polyunsaturated fatty acids: effect of squalene. Europ. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 104, 506-512, 2002.
A. Rosa, M. Deiana, V. Casu, S. Paccagnini, G. Appendino, M. Ballero and Dessì M.A.. Antioxidant Activity of Capsinoids. J. Agric. Food Chem. 50, 7396-7401, 2002.
Deiana M., Rosa A., Casu V., Cottiglia F., Bonsignore L., and Dessì M. A. Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of extracts from Daphne gnidium. JAOCS 80, 65-70, 2003.
Rosa A., Deiana M., Casu V., Corona G., Appendino G., Bianchi F., Ballero M. and Dessì M.A. Antioxidant Activity of Oligomeric Acylphloroglucinols from Myrtus communis L. Free Rad. Res. 37, 1013-1019, 2003.
Deiana M., Rosa A., Casu V., Piga R., Dessì M.A. and Aruoma O.I. L-Ergothioneine modulates oxidative damage in the kidney and liver of rats in vivo: Studies upon the profile of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Clinical Nutrition 23, 183-193, 2004.
Rosa A., Deiana M., Corona G., Atzeri A., Incani A., Dessi M.A. Cholesterol as target of Fe-NTA-induced lipid peroxidation in rat tissues. Toxicology Letters. 157, 1-8, 2005.
Deiana M., Rosa A., Corona G., Collu S., Ennas M.G., Dessì M.A. Lipid peroxidation in plasma of rats treated with ferric-nitrilotriacetate, in relation to kidney and liver modifications. Biofactors 23, 35-44, 2005.
Rosa A., Deiana M., Corona G., Atzeri A., Incani A., Appendino G., and Dessì M.A. Antioxidant properties of extracts and compounds from Psoralea morisiana. Europ. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 107, 521-529, 2005.
Rosa A., Deiana M., Corona G., Atzeri A., Incani A., Appendino G., and Dessì M.A. Protective effect of capsinoid on lipid peroxidation in rat tissues induced by Fe-NTA. Free Rad. Res. 39, 1155-1162, 2005.
Rosa A., Deiana M., Atzeri A., Corona G., Incani A., Melis M.P., Appendino G., Dessì M.A. Evaluation of the antioxidant and cytotixic activity of arzanol, a prenylated alfa-pyrone-phloroglucinol etherodimer from Helichrysum italicum subsp. Microphyllum. Chem. Biol. Interac. 165, 117-126, 2007.