Standardized herbal medicines for the treatment of chronic diseases: biomonitoring and standardized chemical studies of Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nyman (Apiaceae)

• Grant number: 12/50333-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal researcher: Wagner Vilegas
• Grantee: Luciana de Ávila Santos
• Home Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista. São Vicente , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/52237-9 - Standardized herbal medicines for the treatment of chronic diseases, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

Brazil is the biggest country in South America. Its territorial dimensions characterize it as a continental country and this peculiarity together with its great biodiversity promotes the appearance of chemotypes vegetables, including medicinal plants. The use of standardized herbal drugs with efficacy and safety has presented some surprising results but in Brazil there are deficiencies in the correct characterization of chemical raw materials, first step to ensure efficacy and safety of herbal medicines. Recently, the Ministry of Health released a list of 71 plants for the development of herbal medicines, however, points out that the listed plant species still need scientific evaluation of some positive results criteria. Petroselinum crispum is one of these plants listed and is commonly used in folk medicine as diuretic and also to treat urinary tract inflammatory diseases, especially in Brazil. Some studies in the scientific literature have presented the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of P. crispum extracts, but did not associate these active extracts with the complete characterization and standardization of its chemical composition. With the presented project we intend to establish characterization and standardization of P. crispum active extracts, including possible chemotypes, to validate analytical methodology for quality control, to ensure the correct use of this herbal drug. The studies may include the isolation and identification of compounds in P. Crispum extracts, accompanied by pharmacological biomonitoring that can lead to the potential use of this plant to treat a range of chronic diseases. (AU)