Chemical characterization of Ficus guaranitica (Moraceae): prospection of compounds of economic interest and evaluation of biological activities with therapeutic interest

• Grant number: 14/00326-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2014
• End date: April 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Alberto Jose Cavalheiro
• Grantee: João Victor Basolli Borsatto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07600-3 - CIBFar - Center for Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery, AP.CEPID
• Associated scholarship(s): 15/07910-8 - Development of one and multi-dimensional LC-MS methodologies providing greatly improved detection limits and enhanced separation. Subproject: optimization of welding settings to bond high engineering plastics, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Ficus guaranitica, popularly known as "figueira mata pau "and "figueira branca" is an arboreous species that occurs predominantly in the southern, southeastern and central-western regions of Brazil. There are no phytochemical studies reported for this species, but on the other hand, there are many studies of other Ficus species, which report various biological activities, making the study of Ficus guaranitica promising. The Ficus racemosa and Ficus religiosa species are examples of species of this genus with various activities, such as: anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, among others. This project intends to contribute to the knowledge of native species of jungles from Brazil and from São Paulo State, as well as to evaluate the chemical composition and possible pharmacological activities of extracts from leaves, stems and roots of Ficus guaranitica, in order to find metabolites that may be economically exploited.