Manaus Ágil tourism and culture of the AmazonIn progressThe study evaluates the use of the plants Jucá, Carapanaúba and Uchi-Amarelo in the treatment of diseases.
The Jucá, the Carapanaúba, and the Uchi-Amarelo, which are medicinal plants native to the Amazon region, are being analyzed by researchers in Amazonas with the aim of evaluating their use in the treatment of uterine inflammation and the adjuvant management of obesity. The scientific research is developed by researchers from the Department of Chemistry from the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam) in partnership with the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) and with the National Institute for Amazon Research (Inpa).
The study is supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (Fapeam), throughthrough the Research Support Program - Amazonas Universal, edict No. 002/2018, which funds scientific, technological and innovation research activities, or technology transfer, in all areas of knowledge, which represent a significant contribution to the development of the State of Amazonas.
The project coordinator and PhD in Organic Chemistry Rita Nunomuraexplains that the purpose of the study is to perform the chemical characterization of the plant species, which consists specifically in identifying the types of substances and the active principle found in the plants that were selected for the laboratory tests, and, from there, to verify the biological potential of these substances through antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and obesity fighting activity studies.
Scientific validation
According to Rita, in the Amazon, the popular use of medicinal plants is part of the regional culture, but she warns that the indiscriminate use of plants for the treatment of diseases without any scientific proof can be dangerous, since many of these plants may not present the recommended biological activity, i.e., not present the activity for which it is popularly indicated, and may even be toxic.
"For this reason, it is of fundamental importance that both chemical studies and studies of the biological activities of these species are carried out in order to validate the medicinal use of these plant species," he warned.
Biological tests
The coordinator explains that the chemical analysis to isolate and identify the main chemical constituents present in plant species is being done in the Laboratory of Sample Opening and Chemical Tests of the Analytical Center of Ufam in partnership with Inpa , and from this investigation, together with partners, perform biological tests.
"The plant species Carapanaúba, Uchi-Amarelo, whose main component is bergenin, as well as Jucá, are being studied by the research group and the results are very promising, indicating several properties, among them, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial," explains the coordinator.
The researcher points out that more studies need to be conducted to prove and validate these species as medicinal and that this project aims to continue the studies with these species by addressing in a multidisciplinary way the chemistry and pharmacology of these plant species.
"The chemical characterization of these plant species also intends to develop methods of analysis and obtain the metabolomic profile of these samples, allowing these species to be scientifically recognized as medicinal in the future, as well as phytotherapies that may be developed," explains Rita.
In-depth studies
The pharmacology part of the research will address studies of antimicrobial activity, antiproliferative and inhibitory activity of inflammation mediating enzymes, in order to evaluate the potential for which they are indicated, which involves the treatment of fibroids, cysts, endometriosis, and other uterine inflammations.
"Considering that some of these species have indicated inhibitory potential of obesity-related enzymes, further studies through tests in vivo will also be conducted to verify the potential of these species to combat obesity, "he said.
The research group believes that the project should contribute to the scientific development of the region in the aggregation of knowledge, in the technological development for the development of future products from medicinal Amazonian plants.
Research in stages
The research coordinator explains that the studies began in 2016 and part of the identification of chemical constituents and antimicrobial activity should be completed in 2019.
First the plant species are collected, with selection and cleaning of the harvested parts, then it goes to the drying, grinding and sieving processes, until it forms a kind of sawdust. This material is stored in glass jars with solvents (Ethanol or Methanol), which is an alcohol that has the power to extract several classes of substances, exactly because it is organic and has the ability to extract apolar substances and also those of high polarity.
"The material is immersed for several days in the solvent and then filters this material, discards the sawdust and concentrates the extract removing the solvents in a rotary evaporator," she said.
According to the researcher, the concentrated extract is submitted to successive fractionations until it reaches an isolated substance. The fractions are then tested to verify which of them have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic potential.
Rita Nunomura explains that the in vitro tests to identify the cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities will be conducted in partnership with UFMS, through Drs. Simone Schneider Weber and Renata Trentin.
The coordinator explains that the studies in this project involving chemical characterization and biological activity assays to be carried out are the kick-off, since they indicate the biological potential of these species.
The researcher clarifies that for the development of a safe product, several studies with different partners are still necessary, involving other biological and clinical trials. The disclosure of these results seeks to arouse the interest of more researchers and companies to develop them and to validate these species popularly. In addition, it contributes to the valorization of the region's products in a way that arouses interest in the sustainable use of the Amazon forest.
"Among the results obtained, we have the chemical characterization of fractions rich in phenolic substances from the species Endopleura uchi (uchi-amarelo) and Libidibia ferrea (jucá), as well as the verification of their high antioxidant potential through chemical tests. The species Aspidosperma nitidum (carapanaúba) has also shown antioxidant and inhibitory potential of enzymes related to the Central Nervous System (CNS), possibly due to the presence of a class of substances commonly found in the genus, which are the alkaloids, "said Rita.
"The obesity studies with the species E.uchi have shown the potential for reducing overweight in the animals tested, as well as cholesterol levels compared to animals that did not receive treatment. The study has also shown that the species also has prophylactic potential, inhibiting weight gain by inducing obesity in the animals tested," explained the researcher.
