Adaptive and medicinal potential of Cerrado tree legumes

• Grant number: 20/04378-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2020
• End date: February 28, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Morphology
• Principal Investigator: Aline Redondo Martins
• Grantee: Thalissa Cagnin Pereira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The influence of fire on ecosystems and the adaptation of plants in response to this element is still not very comprehensive. Among the Brazilian ecosystems that are prone to periodic fires is the Cerrado, a complex and heterogeneous biome, where it is possible to find a well-adapted flora. Among the families found in this biome, there are included legumes, with species whose characteristics are related to the presence of fire, and generally count with the presence of secondary compounds in their tissues. In order to evaluate the strategies used in plants after the passage of fire, a morphonatomic study of two species of the Fabaceae family will be carried out. In addition, their medicinal potentials will be tested using plant extracts from the leaves inserted into a tumor cell line. Burning experiments were carried out on individuals with juvenile tree habit, with five plots on the Fazenda de Ensino Pesquisa e Extensão - UNESP - Ilha Solteira-SP. For anatomical studies, structures (leaves, stems and roots) were fixed in FAA70 and preserved in 70% ethanol. Transverse and longitudinal sections can be used using freehand techniques with the aid of razor blades or sectioned on the slide microtome. As the following sections, the proper routine and the technique of clarification and coloring, proceed later to the assembly on permanent slides. Part of the material will be dehydrated, included in historesin, sectioned in the rotating microtome and stained with toluidine blue. Histochemical tests concluded as morphoanatomical analyzes, and all material will be photographed under an optical microscope and described according to personalized literature. For medicinal tests, it will be extracted the aqueous extract from the species, which will be inserted into a tumor cell line, derived from cervical squamous cells (SiHa). The material will be analyzed for changes in cell shape and size when treated with extracts. For the cell proliferation and cytotoxicity index, two experiments will be performed: control (without treatment) and another extract in three different concentrations (10, 100 and 1000 ¼g / mL) to be treated for 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours. The statistical test of analysis of variance will be applied to use the results. (AU)