Isolation and identification of acetophenones derivatives from Myrcia multiflora (Lam.), M.shaerocarpa DC. and M.amazônica DC., correlated with hypoglycemic activity

• Grant number: 11/17450-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2011
• End date: November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Silvia Helena Taleb Contini
• Grantee: Ana Carolina Duó Bartolomeu
• Host Institution: Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP). Campus Ribeirão Preto. Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

One of the largest genera of Myrtaceae, with more than 300 species distributed from Mexico to southern Brazil, Myrcia is a medicinal plant with great economic interest to Brazil. M. multiflora (Lam.) DC., M. shaerocarpa DC. and M. spp. is used in controlling diabetes, and M. amazônica DC. in the treatment of leukemia. Chemical composition of essential oils of these plant species are especially the monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, aromatic and aliphatic substances. Phenolic compounds are often found in crude extracts of species of Myrtaceae. Pharmacological studies have revealed the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of phenolic substances such as flavonoids and acetophenones, isolated from medicinal plants with hypoglycemic activity. The isolation and identification of acetophenones derivatives from crude extracts of Myrcia will contribute to the discovery of new hypoglycemic agents. The aims of this project are isolation and identification of derivatives of acetophenones and study the chemical composition of volatile oil of three species of Myrcia.