Chemometrics applied to metabolomics of Aldama La Llave: chemotaxonomic contributions and targeted phytochemistry based on cyclooxygenase-1 and 5-lipoxygenase inhibition

Abstract

The family Asteraceae has importance in several fields of science. Many of its species are endemic to Brazil and have not been yet fully investigated from the chemical and pharmacological perspective. The genus Viguiera Kunt (Asteraceae-Heliantheae) was selected for this present study due to the problem related to its taxonomic as well as phylogenetic position, its high pharmacological potential and because many of its species are found in biomes that are not exploited in a sustainable way, as is the case of the Brazilian Cerrado.Several natural compounds have been isolated and identified in recent years with help of phytochemical methods. Such compounds are of importance not only for the chemical characterization of plant species, but also to confirm its pharmacological potential by means of suitable biological assays of those popularly regarded as medicinal plants. This is the case of several native Asteraceae species.Therefore, this project is noble firstly with regard to the analysis of the metabolic profile of genus Viguiera, which is to be performed by chromatographic as well as spectroscopic techniques, therefore providing information on the chemistry and thus aiding in the systematics of the genus. Secondly, because it is proposed to verify the anti-inflammatory activity of extracts and their isolated constituents by means of a bioassay designed to evaluate the concomitant inhibition of the inflammatory enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX) and lypoxygenase (LOX). The plant material will be selected from the Viguiera species that show the best metabolite profile to be obtained by previous analysis using LC-UV-MS (Liquid Chromatography coupled to UV detector and Mass Spectrometer). We would like to stress that the present work plan belongs to a Thematic Project that is supported by FAPESP, which aims to perform metabolomics studies, molecular and biological assays of native species of Asteraceae.