Metabolomic study of Litchi chinensis seeds and evaluation of antifungal, insecticidal, genotoxic and antigenotoxic activities.

• Grant number: 25/07402-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Patricia Mendonça Pauletti
• Grantee: Patricia Mendonça Pauletti
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Franca
• Associated researchers: Alessandra Marieli Vacari ; Denise Crispim Tavares ; Regina Helena Pires ; Renato Luis Tame Parreira

Abstract

Lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is cultivated in several countries, especially China and India. In Brazil, it was introduced in 1810 and is grown mainly in the Southeast region. Although the seeds play an important role, they are often discarded as waste during consumption of the fruit, resulting in waste of a potentially valuable material. Recently, our laboratory was contacted by the owner of Lichias Britchis®, located in Itaí (São Paulo), who provided us with dehydrated lychee seeds from his farm. In this proposal, we intend to investigate potential applications for lychee seeds, thus offering a viable alternative to mitigate the problem of improper disposal faced by agricultural industries. The antifungal, insecticidal, genotoxic, and antigenotoxic properties of the seed extract will be investigated. It is worth mentioning that a pilot extract has already demonstrated promising antifungal and insecticidal activities. The extracts will be analyzed by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, using the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) platform as an annotation and compounds identification tool. The active metabolites will be purified and characterized by 1D and 2D NMR, IR, UV, and MS experiments. The main objectives of the project include the identification of secondary metabolites with antifungal, insecticidal, genotoxic, and/or antigenotoxic activities, as well as the performance of an in silico study to investigate structure-biological activity relationships. This study will be complemented by an evaluation of physicochemical descriptors, pharmacokinetic parameters, drug-likeness profile and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) properties. Additionally, we intend to develop and validate an HPLC method using the isolated bioactive compounds as chemical markers. This project will also contribute to the research on natural products currently being developed by the Unifran Natural Products Research Group, to the training of human resources and to the Unifran Postgraduate Program in Sciences. Finally, the proposal is aligned with SDG 12 (Sustainable Production and Consumption), by transforming waste into valuable resources, and promoting a more sustainable production model. (AU)