Identification, phytochemical, functional analyses and bioactivity of phenolic compounds from jabuticabeira (Myrciaria cauliflora) leaves for incorporation into microbeads

• Grant number: 24/08830-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: November 16, 2024
• End date: November 15, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Lusânia Maria Greggi Antunes
• Grantee: Carolina Girotto Pressete
• Supervisor: Daniel Granato
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Limerick (UL), Ireland
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/15267-1 - Identification of phenolic compounds in jabuticaba leaves (Myrciaria cauliflora): Phytochemical characterization, investigation of bioactivities and toxicological effects of vescalagin and castalagin ellagitannins in human hepatocarcinoma spheroids, BP.PD

Abstract

The jabuticabeira is a native Brazilian fruit species, and there is great economic andtechnological interest in this plant due to its nutritional and functional properties.Jabuticaba seeds have been shown to be the richest source of phenolic compounds, andthe pulp still represents the main product of industrial interest; jabuticabeira leaves arestill neglected due to the lack of knowledge about its food and nutritional value/potential.Regardless of the edible fractions of fruit plants, inedible fractions such as fruit peels,stems and leaves have been reported in the literature as good sources of hydrolyzabletannins, including ellagitannins. Furthermore, phenolic compounds found in jabuticababyproducts present several health benefits, such as antioxidant potential, antiinflammatory properties, and chemopreventive/chemotherapeutic agents in cancer. The present work aims to carry out the identification, phytochemical and functional analysis and optimize the extraction of phenolic compounds in jabuticabeira leaves, as foreseen in the initial postdoctoral project, for incorporating phenolic compounds extracted inmicrospheres, to carry out biological studies upon return to the country, at the FCFRP/USP Nutrigenomics Laboratory. The proposed research project is interdisciplinary and multicenter, with significant knowledge transfer.