Semisynthetic derivatives of mycophenolic acid: evaluation of the photoprotective and antioxidant potential

• Grant number: 20/03580-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: July 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Principal Investigator: Lorena Rigo Gaspar Cordeiro
• Grantee: Maria da Graça Landim Bravo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nowadays, few sunscreens are effective against UVA radiation and have a broad absorption spectrum. In addition, most of those that are available on the market have one or more drawbacks to be considered as in the case of oxybenzone, which is an example of a UV filter in which studies have shown its collaboration in corals bleaching and interfering with other types of marine life. Thus, there is filed for new UV filters to be discovered and tested, especially those of natural origin, as in our case, where we will study and evaluate the effects of mycophenolic acid analogues, extracted from the marine fungus Penicillium brevicompactum, combined with peptides containing amino acid residues that presents UV absorption and antioxidant potential. Thus, we aim to evaluate the photoprotective and antioxidant potential of new derivatives of mycophenolic acid and peptides, since previous results, of some analogs containing only an amino acid residue linked to mycophenolic acid, indicated potential application in sunscreens. Mycophenolic acid will be isolated from Penicillium brevicompactum culture and their analogues will be obtained via solid phase peptide synthesis using amino acid residues of interest. Then the analogues will be submitted to the evaluation of the UV absorption spectrum, phototoxicity and antioxidant potential.