Investigation of antifungal activity, mechanisms of action and analysis of protein profile against Pothomorphe umbellata extracts

• Grant number: 13/25243-3
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: April 01, 2014 - March 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Principal researcher: Rosemeire Cristina Linhari Rodrigues Pietro
• Grantee: Rosemeire Cristina Linhari Rodrigues Pietro
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Dermatophytosis is a superficial mycosis of the most common and most frequent among recurrent infections in the world and is caused by fungal infection of keratinized tissues. Among the most common etiological agents, are Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis, these will be used as models in the study. Although it does not put the patient at risk causes discomfort and in some cases it require systemic antifungal therapy, which generates a concern about the emergence of resistance to existing drugs. Previous studies have shown that some extracts of Pothomorphe umbellata and some of its isolated components, including its main secondary metabolite 4-nerolidylcathecol exhibit activity against microbial growth. This project aims to quantify the activity of extracts and isolated compounds by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and to investigate possible mechanisms of action by the release of intracellular material and the effects of sorbitol and ergosterol. It also covers the use of proteomic analysis of dermatophytes, until then restricted to the identification of virulence mechanisms in response to treatment with traditional antifungal, with the intention to unravel mechanisms of action and/or new therapeutic targets, a type of study that doesn't exist with dermatophytes. This project is linked to a project developed by Jolindo Alencar Freitas (Processo Fapesp 2013/10578-0), under my supervision. The results obtained allow evaluation of target proteins in studies for the generation of new mechanisms of action and the potential of extracts of P. umbellata and compounds for producing a future phytochemical antifungal. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FREITAS, JOLINDO A.; SORRECHIA, RODRIGO; POLITI, FLAVIO A. S.; SANTOS, ANDRE G.; RODRIGUES, EDVANIO R.; SANTOS, LOURDES C.; FUSCO-ALMEIDA, ANA M.; OLIVEIRA, ANDREW A.; GUIDO, RAFAEL V. C.; PIETRO, ROSEMEIRE C. L. R.. In vitro bioassay guided anti-dermatophyte and cytotoxic activities from Piper umbellatum L. Miq. led to 4-nerolidylcatechol. NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH, v. 34, n. 23, p. 3423-3427, DEC 1 2020. (13/25243-3, 13/07600-3, 13/10578-0)