Chemical documentation of species from Casearia genus (Salicaceae) of ecological, economical and medicinal relevance

• Grant number: 14/02738-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Alberto José Cavalheiro
• Grantee: Naira Buzzo Anhesine
• Home 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

Abstract

The Casearia genus (Salicaceae) is well known because of the medicinal use of its species. Among them, a noteworthy one is the C. sylvestris specie because it already has studies concerning its antiproliferative and/or cytotoxic activity in tumor cells. Furthermore, this specie is popularly used against snake bites, in gastric ulcers treatment and as anti-inflammatory. As well as this, there are other species from this same genus which have been poorly studied, such as the following species: C. grandiflora, C. javitensis, C. arborea, C. lasiophylla and C. ulmifolia. However, several biological activities have been reported for them. In this context, the aim of this project, besides of contributing to the Casearia genus studies, is to study those five species through the analysis and documentation of their leaves' chemical composition, as well as identify new second metabolites in this genus aiming the bioprospection of substances with medicinal and economical potential and finally promote the systematic study of some biological activities.