The characterization of plant compounds with pharmacological activity is a field of great relevance in research and development. As such, identification techniques with the goal of developing new drugs or even validating the bioactive properties of extracts must be explored in order to further expand the knowledge of plant extract composition. Most works in this field employ HPLC, when exploring non-structural and cell wall carbohydrates from Rhynchelytrum repens. Phenolic compounds were studied by classical chromatography techniques and UV-vis spectrophotometry, with C-glycosylated flavonoids being detected but with no further details regarding the chemical structure of these compounds. In this work we employ paper spray ionization mass spectrometry (PS-MS) for the evaluation of the chemical profile of R. repens methanol extract. Positive ionization mode identified 15 compounds, belonging to flavonoids, fatty acids, and other classes of compounds; negative mode ionization was able to identify 20 compounds comprising the classes of quinic acids, stilbenes and flavonoids. PS-MS proved effective for the evaluation of R. repens extracts, making it possible to identify a total of thirty-five compounds. The bioactive properties attributed to R. repens were confirmed by the identification and characterization of compounds identified by PS-MS.

Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. Allem. (Anacardiaceae) is a tree popularly known as the “aroeira-do-sertão”, native to the caatinga and cerrado biomes, with a natural dispersion ranging from the Northeast, Midwest, to Southeast Brazil. Its wood is highly valued and overexploited, due to its characteristics such as durability and resistance to decaying. The diversity of chemical constituents in aroeira seed has shown biological properties against microorganisms and helminths. As such, this work aimed to identify the profile of volatile compounds present in aroeira seeds. Headspace solid phase microextraction was employed (HS-SPME) using semi-polar polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene fiber (PDMS/DVB) for the extraction of VOCs. 22 volatile organic compounds were identified: nine monoterpenes and eight sesquiterpenes, in addition to six compounds belonging to different chemical classes such as fatty acids, terpenoids, salicylates and others. Those that stood out were p-mentha-1,4, 4(8)-diene, 3-carene (found in all samples), caryophyllene and cis-geranylacetone. A virtual docking analysis suggested that around 65% of the VOCs molar content from the aroeiras seeds present moderate a strong ability to bind to cyclooxygenase I (COX-I) active site, oxide nitric synthase (iNOS) active site (iNOSas) or to iNOS cofactor site (iNOScs), corroborating an anti-inflamatory potential. A pharmacophoric descriptor analysis allowed to infer the more determinant characteristics of these compounds’ conferring affinity to each site. Taken together, our results illustrate the high applicability for the integrated use of SPME, in silico virtual screening and chemoinformatics tools at the profiling of the biotechnological and pharmaceutical potential of natural sources.

A cagaiteira (Eugenia dysenterica) pertencente à família Myrtaceae, é uma árvore nativa do Cerrado brasileiro, o seu fruto é muito frágil, apresentando casca fina e polpa suculenta, é consumido na forma processada como geleia para prolongar a vida útil. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo elaborar geleia de cagaita e avaliar a alteração de compostos bioativos e compostos voláteis em relação à polpa in natura. A análise de espectrometria de massa por paper spray nos modos positivos e negativos permitiu a identificação de 27 compostos, dentre elas, ácidos orgânicos, açúcares, antocianinas, ácidos hidroxicinâmicos, ácidos hidroxibenzóicos e flavonoides, indicando que a produção de geleia pode ser uma técnica para conservação de compostos fenólicos com suas respectivas qualidades sensoriais como cor e sabor. Na análise de voláteis por microextração em fase sólida no modo headspace, foram detectados no total de 33 compostos, principalmente das classes de monoterpenos, de sesquiterpenos e de ésteresindicando que a produção da geleia pode conservar o aroma característico do fruto. Na caracterização dos compostos voláteis da polpa de cagaita, o 3-careno foi o monoterpeno majoritário encontrado. Enquanto no processamento da geleia houve produção do furaldeído, produto obtido como consequência natural do aquecimento.

The Cerrado, the world's most biodiverse tropical savanna, has had 25% of its native vegetation devastated in recent years. The family Arecaceae, commonly known as palm trees, is one of the ethnobotanical families present in this biome. They are well known for their fruits with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hypocholesterolemic characteristics. It is estimated that there are about 6,000 species of plants in the Cerrado, but only 30% of them are fully known as to their benefits and potentials. Therefore, the objective of this study is to perform an integrative review on the content of fatty acids, flavonoids and carotenoids of the main fruits of the Cerrado palms: Licuri (Syagrus coronata), guariroba (Syagrus oleracea), buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), buritirana (Mauritiella armata), macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata), butiá (Butia odorata) e coquinho-azedo (Butia capitata). From the search strategies, the databases Science Direct, Google Scholar and CAPES Journals were used. Only articles published between 2019 and 2023 that answered the guiding question were considered. The main carotenoid identified was β-carotene, and the main flavonoids found were: catechin, rutin and quercetin. Several fruits presented saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents Therefore, the presence of these compounds indicates the potential use of the fruits of the Cerrado palm trees, with promising application in the industry.

Fomentamos o conhecimento! Publicação de artigo científico, capítulo de livro, e-book, livro organizado, periódico de acesso aberto. Vem publicar o seu artigo ou livro com a gente

Fomentamos o conhecimento! Publicação de artigo científico, capítulo de livro, e-book, livro organizado, periódico de acesso aberto. Vem publicar o seu artigo ou livro com a gente