Chemistry study of Zanthoxylum naranjillo Engler (Rutaceae) and of the antimalarial and schistosomicidal activities.

• Grant number: 08/04376-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2008
• End date: November 30, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Patricia Mendonça Pauletti
• Grantee: Caio Guedes Braguine
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Rutaceae is consisted of approximately 150 genera, which comprises 1500 species, Rutaceae are found in tropical and temperate regions. The Zanthoxylum genus comprises around 200 species distributed all over the world. Chemistry studies of this genus revealed the presence of alkaloids, amides, lignans, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and terpenes. Additionally, Z. narranjillo showed the occurrence of lignans and sesquiterpenes, where some lignans isolated showed anti-inflammatory and trypanocidal activities. The research of new schistosomicidal and antimalarial drugs are consider of low priority to the Pharmaceutical companies. Thus, this project aims to realize the chemistry study of the EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions obtained from the leaves ethanolic crude extract of Z. naranjillo Engler (Rubiaceae), which showed previously trypanocidal activity in studies developed by our group (GPNUF, Grupo de Pesquisa em Produtos Naturais da UNIFRAN), and also inhibitory capacity in the ²-Hematin formation assay. Additionally, the schistosomicidal and antimalarial activities of the isolated compounds will be also evaluated.