Phytochemical Study and Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Struthanthus syringifolius (Mart.) Mart.

• Grant number: 09/17776-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2010
• End date: January 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Ana Helena Januário
• Grantee: Amanda Lonardi Góes
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Struthanthus syringifolius (Mart.) Mart. belongs to Loranthaceae family, being one of the vegetal native species from "cerrado", which constitutes the flora of the ecological Station of Jataí -SP. This " cerrado" region has been selected for study in the Research Project "Phytochemical Study and Evaluation of the Antimalarial, Antimicrobial and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Activities from The São Paulo State Cerrado Native Species" (Fapesp Process n. 2008/01268-9). Additionally chemical studies on this genus reveal the presence of terpenes, lignans, flavonoids, and also the presence of carbohydrates, fatty acids, aminoacids, phenylpropanoids, tannins and alkaloids. However for the S. syringifolius species the chemical study as well the evaluation of its biological potential are unpublished. Thus, the aim of this Cientific Iniciation Project is to carry out phytochemical studies of the fractions obtained from the ethanolic extract of aerial parts of S. syringifolius. Based in this approach, the fractions and the isolated compounds will be submitted to antimicrobial and Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme Inhibitory assays, seeking to pin-point the chemical constituents present in S. syringifolius responsible for these activities.