Natural Products Chemistry
The research line in Natural Products Chemistry aims to develop research related to extraction, characterization, quantification and semisynthesis derived from natural products, mainly from the Cerrado biome. It also aims to evaluate the potential for biological applications of isolated and/or synthesized metabolites. Therefore, studies in this line will involve the isolation, purification, identification and quantification of active ingredients in supposedly medicinal plants; prospecting of Cerrado species with biological activity; evaluation of the biological activity of pure substances and extracts; improvement of the properties of pharmacologically active compounds; synthesis, semisynthesis and structural modification of molecules based on natural products; study of interactions between organisms and their environment and development of chromatographic methods applied in natural products. Additionally, this research line also includes the theoretical studies of electronic structure and spectroscopic and physicochemical properties of organic molecules, especially natural products.
Related line professors:
Fabio Luiz Paranhos Costa
Research Project: Calculation of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic parameters of natural and analogous products.
Molecular Modeling: In the project, spectroscopic properties such as 13 C, 1 H and 15 N NMR chemical shifts will be calculated to assist in the structural determination of natural and analogous products. Biological properties will be investigated, eg, through theoretical calculations of physicochemical parameters, ie, bond breakdown energies and ionization potentials, since these are related to the main antioxidant mechanisms of polyphenols, ie, HAT (hydrogen atom transfer) and SET (single electron transfer).
Fernando Henrique Cristovan
Research Project: Synthesis and Developing of biomaterials based on natural molecules.
Brazil and the Latin American continent have great potential to be explored with respect to their bioactive compounds extracted in the wild. Existing biodiversity in Brazil offers long-term prospects for the exploration and development of new materials derived from biomolecules extracted from nature. Bioactive compounds derived from phenolic compounds, carotenoids, naphthoquinones, essential fatty acids, among others, have high antioxidant activity, acting as substances that slow or prevent the action of free radicals in the body, may have antineoplastic action against solid tumors can prevent cardiovascular disease. Thus, bioactive compounds are of great interest in the area of food, drugs and cosmetics due to their functional properties. Modification of these compounds is of fundamental importance as new alternative sources of medicines and which may incorporate desirable characteristics when used in the preparation of new materials. Thus, we propose in this research project the chemical modification of organic compounds of natural origin, such as Lapachol, Bixins and Curcuma, even though not being native to the American flora, among others, have chromophoric groups and/or atoms that make the molecules suitable binders for rare earth metals and other metals. The synthesized materials will be characterized by infrared (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), UV-Vis, fluorescence and ellipsometry spectroscopy. Additionally, depending on the processing of the synthesized material they will be electrically characterized as a function of temperature to determine the electrical conductivity mechanisms dc.
Karla S. Malquias
Research Project: Application of semiochemicals in monitoring and suppressing population fluctuation of pests of commercial interest in soybean crop.
The growing productive scenario in the agricultural sector experienced by Brazil faces a considerable barrier due to the phytosanitary problems that producers have been suffering in recent harvests, such as the Helicoverpa armigera pest, as well as with other species of the genus Helicoverpa. This insect species is agile, with high reproduction rate, extremely polygamous, with the ability to feed on more than 100 plant species. Among them, several of economic relevance as: cotton, soy, sorghum, beans, wheat and corn. The pest is resistant to many active ingredients and also the Bt technology (so-called Bacillus thuringiensis, from which the gene confers resistance to plants was extracted), widely used in the control of caterpillars. The goal of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of the sex pheromone in the monitoring and control of Helicoverpa armigera in soybean crop using Integrated Pest Management (MIP) in Jataí - GO region. Pheromones belong to the group of semiochemicals that can act on both the physiology and behavior of individuals. By acting specifically on the action against the target insect, pheromones emerge as an effective alternative, ecologically and economically rational in the control of pest insects. The experimental design will be five blocks and four treatments. Research on semiochemicals carried out worldwide has already included studies with 103 of the 447 insect pests of Brazilian agriculture, representing 23% of the total species. Thus, it can be noted that the use of pheromone-baited traps represents an important contribution to Integrated Pest Management (MIP) and to the reduction of pesticide use in agriculture, increasing the productivity and profitability of the farmer.
Research Project: Nanoencapsulation of essential oils with antimicrobial effect
Essential oils plays an important role in protecting plants as an antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, insecticidal and herbivorous agent. In addition, these plant species produce primary compounds, such as sugars and nitrogen compounds, as well as secondary compounds, which are not used directly for their food and nutrition. Among the most studied secondary compounds are alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and essential oils. The aim of the project is to nononcapsulate essential oils with potential antimicrobial activity.
Liliane Nebo
Research Project: Chemical Prospecting of Cerrado Plant Species and their Biological Activities.
Natural products have been emerging as a promising source in the discovery of new bioactive compounds. As a target of this study it's important to explore the potential of compounds extracted from native vegetation, such as typical cerrado plants. In this biome, there are several species with medicinal properties and widely used in folk medicine, however, few studies on their chemical compositions and bioactive principles are described in the literature. Thus, this project aims to study different species of the Cerrado of Goiás, seeking isolation, identification of bioactive principles and evaluation of their antimicrobial, immunostimulant, antioxidant, anthelmintic activities, among others.