Metabolomic analysis of the chemodiversity present in the Amaryllidaceae family and prospection of anticholinesterase activity

• Grant number: 23/03346-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Principal Investigator: Norberto Peporine Lopes
• Grantee: Winner Duque Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/02207-5 - Inventorying secondary metabolism applying metabolomic strategies: contribution to the Brazilian biodiversity valuation, AP.BTA.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/00709-7 - Chemoenzymatic synthesis of alkaloid derivatives from Amaryllidaceae family by the secretome of Botrytis cinerea and evaluation of antitumoral activity, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The conservation and preservation of biodiverse regions are urgent agendas of global interest. The increasing degradation of areas that concentrate biodiversity is mainly due to climatic and/or anthropic actions. The knowledge and valorization of biodiversity are important factors to understand the dynamics of the functioning of these biomes, as well as to promote their rational use. The Amaryllidaceae family, for example, has a cosmopolitan distribution and is rich in bioactive compounds, mainly alkaloids. Its isoquinolinic alkaloids arouse great interest due to their biological activities, such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor, and anticholinesterase activities. The only drug, of plant origin, available for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, has been isolated from this family expressing its therapeutic potential. That said, this project initially aims to contribute to the expansion of the chemical-biological inventory of the Amaryllidaceae family through metabolomic analysis and anticholinesterase prospection. The first one is based on the acquisition of metabolic fingerprints, using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Then, multivariate statistical tools, chemometrics, and spectral similarity networks will be employed. These tools will enable investigations into the origin and distribution of metabolic patterns that aid in the understanding of the current state of conservation, as well as the annotation and characterization of potential new bioactive compounds. The in vitro prospecting of the quantitative anticholinesterase activity of the plant extracts will be carried out by spectrophotometry, aiming to add value to the biodiversity found. Thus, the results found can serve as a basis for studies aimed at the preservation, valuation and rational use of biodiversity.