PCP Research Group

Phyto-

Chemistry

Pharmacology

Presentation

Our research group is focused on the study of biomolecules in several aspects, evaluating their physicochemical and pharmacological properties. A current topic developed includes bioactive compounds extracted from vegetable sources, such lipids and polyphenols, mainly obtained from Brazilian biomes. However, we are not limited to these compounds, i.e., commercially drugs and synthesized molecules are also studied to evaluate their potential toxicity and interactions with specific protein targets. A set of experimental and theoretical tools are applied by group members to understand the biological behavior of molecules at several levels, including: animal models; cell culture; platelet aggregation; protein-ligand in vitro analysis; molecular spectroscopies, UV-Vis and fluorescence; molecular modeling, docking and MD simulations.

Some topics of interest:

# Pharmacological effects of natural extracts from Brazilian ecosystems used in folk medicine;# Platelet aggregation assays to understand the homeostasis perturbation promoted by bioactive compounds;# Computational simulations applied to predict the molecular interactions of biomolecules and their biological targets.# Molecular spectroscopy as tool to evaluate oil and biodiesel degradation, natural extracts properties, and interactions with nanomaterials; # Impact of human contaminants on environmental and human health according simulations and experimental approaches;

Our suggestion!

Fruits of the Brazilian Cerrado: Composition and Functional Benefits - 2021.

Editors: Freitas de Lima, Fernando, Lescano, Caroline Honaiser, Pires de Oliveira, Ivan (Eds.) - Springer International Publishing.

Fruits of the Brazilian Cerrado: Composition and Functional Benefits describes the nutritional, chemical and physical characteristics of the fruits of the Cerrado, as well as their pharmacological effects and use in phytotherapics. Chapters are dedicated to the morphological characteristics, macronutrients, micronutrients and active compounds of various fruits, with separate sections covering their peels, leaves, nuts, pulps, and other components.The text also includes detailed studies on the treatment of diseases with these natural products, as well as their applications in popular use by local communities. Authors explain the importance of bioactive compounds found in the fruits and their possible mechanisms of action in the organism. This text thus provides a valuable reference to researchers studying a range of topics, including functional foods, phytotherapy, and plant science.