Análise quimiotaxonômica de diterpenos em quatro gêneros de euphorbiaceae com ocorrência no semiárido brasileiro, estudo fitoquímico e avaliação da atividade biológica de Jatropha ribifolia (Pohl) Bail

Abstract

The present work demonstrates the chemodiversity of Euphorbiaceae species found in the Brazilian semi-arid region through a chemophenetic analysis based on diterpenes. Additionally, it highlights the structural diversity, biological activities, and potential pharmaceutical applications of diterpenes isolated from Jatropha species. Finally, it describes the phytochemical investigation and activity studies of the extract and isolated compounds from Jatropha ribifolia through silico and in vitro analyses. As results, the use of chemophenetics based on artificial intelligence tools and molecular data allowed for the identification of chemical patterns among the genera Jatropha, Cnidoscolus, Sapium, and Stillingia, Euphorbiaceae genera occurring in the Caatinga, and suggested phylogenetic relationships between the analyzed species. These findings, along with a literature review, indicated the significant potential of the Jatropha genus for the identification of new cytotoxic and antibacterial agents. The phytochemical study of J. ribifolia led to the isolation of 17 compounds, seven of which are novel in literature, named Ribifolones A-G. Molecular docking assays indicate high cytotoxic potential for these new substances. Assays with the extract and its major compound, jatrophone, demonstrated antibiofilm activity against P. aeruginosa. Thus, this work contributes to the understanding of the chemodiversity of the Brazilian semi- arid region and opens avenues for the development of new bioactive agents effective in combating serious current public health challenges, such as cancer and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.