Study of the chemical diversity of Passifloras in Colombia and Brazil: a metabolomic approach and biological potential of agro-industrial by-products

• Grant number: 20/10958-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2021
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Agreement: Ministry of Science, Technology And Innovation (Minciencias)
• Principal Investigator: Ian Castro-Gamboa
• Grantee: Ian Castro-Gamboa
• Principal researcher abroad: Geison Modesti Costa
• Institution abroad: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alba Alicia Trespalacios Rangel ; Alberto Jose Cavalheiro ; Freddy Alejandro Ramos Rodríguez ; Juliet Angélica Prieto Rodríguez ; Leonardo Castellanos Hernandez ; Silvana Maria Zucolotto Langassner
• Associated research grant(s): 23/01633-9 - Natural phenolic compounds scaffolds in design of Dengue virus inhibitors, AP.R
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/07824-8 - Study of the chemical diversity of Passifloras in Colombia and Brazil: a metabolomic approach and biological potential of agro-industrial by-products, BP.TT

Abstract

This proposal is based on work previously carried out by the researchers, where the potential of Latin American biodiversity is recognized. In this context, Brazil and Colombia are the most biodiverse countries in the world, having a unique source of natural products that can be used in response to multiple needs, including health. The study of biodiversity, associated with its sustainable use, with a future vision of possible therapeutic uses, must include its chemical characterization in the broadest possible way, which implies the standardization of extracts and the rigorous establishment of their biological activities. Passiflora species, in addition to the production of fruits of high commercial value, are widely accepted in traditional medicine as anxiolytics and analgesics. Previous studies carried out by the associated research groups have shown that Passiflora species have great chemical diversity, as well as their extracts have interesting biological activities from a pharmacological and cosmetic point of view. However, one of the limiting factors for their use is access to raw materials, known as the supply problem. Therefore, in this project, it is proposed to evaluate the variations in the chemical composition of different parts of the Passiflora species used commercially in Colombia and Brazil, especially the parts considered agro-industrial by-products (leaves, barks, seeds), using metabolomic methodologies and evaluating some biological activities of clinical and cosmetic interest, such as antimicrobial activity against different strains of Helicobacter pylori with different resistance profiles, as well as the potential use as a source of photoprotective compounds. Correlations between chemical composition and biological activity of active extracts will also be established through metabolomic approaches. (AU)