Production of quinonamethides triterpenes from in vitro cultivated roots of Salacia grandiflora Kurz

• Grant number: 18/16263-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2018
• End date: October 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Ana Maria Soares Pereira
• Grantee: Leonardo Lopes Silva
• Host Institution: Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP). Campus Ribeirão Preto. Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Species of the Celastraceae family have been the target of in vitro studies for accumulating secondary metabolites with potential use as bioactive in phytomedicines. Recently, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that quinonamethides triterpenes (QTs) celastrol, maitenine, 22²-hydroxymitenamine and pristimerine are promising substances to be used in anticancer therapy because they are effective in chemotherapeutic resistant neoplasms currently used. These metabolites accumulate in the roots, but the low concentration of these in plants in situ is a limitation for continuous and large scale production. In this way, the objective of this project is the in vitro production of Salacia grandiflora roots for the production of quinonamethides triterpenes and to establish growth curve and QT production. The overall results will allow the validation of bioprocess as a viable alternative for the continuous production of QTs for use in the development of innovative drugs.