Chemical diversity, genetic polymorphism and pharmacological activities of Croton (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

Croton L. is the second largest genus of Euphorbiaceae, comprising about 1,300 species. Several Croton species have long been included among important medicinal plants in popular Brazilian traditions. Croton chemistry is widely diverse, a fact that qualifies the group as highly promising toward studies aiming prospects of pharmacologically active natural substances. The objective of the present project is to raise data about chemical composition of five species of Croton, by means of analyses by GC/MS and HPLC/MS of extracts containing alkaloids, diterpenes, volatile oils and flavonoids. It is intended also to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-bactericidal, anti-proliferative and anti-HIV1 activity of crude extracts and pure compounds from promising extracts. Because C. sphaerogynus shows morphological polymorphisms among different populations, it is an aim of the present project to detect possible chemical intra-specific polymorphisms, by establishment of chromatographic profiles and comparison among individuals from distinct populations. The results will be matched with data of comparative analyses using AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) markers of the same individuals used in chemical analyses. (AU)