Evaluation of the association of fruit extracts of Pterodon pubescens, Arrabidaea chica Verlot and Bixa orellana on healing and antiproliferative activities

• Grant number: 19/12273-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2019
• End date: August 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Principal Investigator: Mary Ann Foglio
• Grantee: Júlia Constantino Camilli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/21801-2 - Predictors of severity and new treatments for bone marrow neoplasias, AP.TEM

Abstract

The discovery and development of new drugs is still a challenge with high costs in research and development. Even with the advanced knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved on the treatment of cancer, pain and inflammation its therapy still insufficient due to its several side effects or limited efficacy. For this reason, the search for new molecules with less side effects are extremely necessary. The use of phytocomplexes can be an alternative for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. The species Arrabidaea chica Verlot, Bixa orellana and Pterodon pubescens Benth. are widely used on the treatment of different inflammatory diseases. Our research group has been working on this area since 1987. Among the studied species, the Pterodon pubescens Benth. has demonstrated an excellent potential controlling cellular proliferation, nociception and inflammation. Meanwhile, Arrabideae chica Verlot is capable of proliferate fibroblasts, and enabled the development of a product for the recuperation of cancer patients that develop chemotherapy induced oral mucositis. Bixa orellana is important on the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industry due the production of pigments, commonly used to color drugs and others pharmaceutical products. On this species have been identified a total of 73 components, one of its major is the geranylgeraniol. Researches demonstrate that the geranylgeraniol is responsible for reversing toxic effects of zoledronic acid on human gingival fibroblasts, suggesting that these genes are regulated by the mevalonate pathway, this way, it can be used as a therapeutic strategy for bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaws. From the production residues of the Bixella orellana pigment, we will study the pharmacological potential of those compounds isolated and in association with Pterodon pubescens Benth. and Arrabideae chica Verlot, evaluating the responses of those associations on the experimental models proposed. This way, the obtained results will have a significant impact over different aspects, such as: Scientific impact: publication of new results, validation of extraction methods of active principles, validation of pharmacological evaluation methods; Technologic impact: launching of new drugs on the market; Economic impact: the development of a national product from sustainable sources; Social impact: promote human resources, obtain new drugs, new job opportunities on the agronomy and pharmaceutical fields; Environment impact: ecological sustainable sources, because the species are renewable products that enable the continuous production of the drug. (AU)