Brazil is home to approximately 55,000 unique plant species, making it the world's leading “mega-biodiverse” nation as classified by the United Nations. While much of this biodiversity is linked to the Amazon rainforest, significant diversity also stems from the lesser-known Mata Atlantica along the eastern coast. An international research team has recently identified a chemical compound in the leaves of Copaifera lucens Dwyer, a tree indigenous to this region, that shows potential in combating covid-19.
This compound, known as galloylquinic acids, operates through a “multitarget mode of action,” which disrupts several viral proteins and enzymes associated with the virus. This multi-target mechanism may lower the chances of resistance developing against the treatment, according to pharmacist Jairo Kenupp Bastos, who led the study at the Ribeirão Preto School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of São Paulo. Additionally, the galloylquinic acids exhibit antiviral and antifungal properties, including inhibition of HIV-1.
The researchers utilized ultraviolet spectroscopy to identify six subcategories of galloylquinic acid after analyzing dried and treated leaf samples of Copaifera lucens. One specific configuration, 3,4,5-tri-galloylquinic acid, demonstrated a strong binding affinity against the virus, further highlighting the plant's potential in medicinal applications.