Caracterização química e atividade biológica do látex de Couma utilis (sorva)

Abstract

The present dissertation describes the physical-chemical, chemical and biological characteristics of latex utilis Couma (Apocynaceae), fruit species, genuinely Brazilian, endemic of Amazon region, popularly known as rowan, whose latex is used in food. After extraction, the latex is separated in three phases: rubber particles (F1), serum (F2) and lutoids (F3). Morphological characterization of latex, previously heated at 45°C was carried out by Microscopy of Atomic Force and was observed the formation of films and roughness from raw latex, anticoagulant serum, diluted, centrifuged and filtered serum. Presence of proteins was not detected in Maldi-TOF spectrometer analysis. However, filtered and lyophilized serum extract, by chromatographic fractioning and further analysis by NMR of isolated compound, allowed identifying the occurrence of α-amyrin acetate. The antimicrobial activity of F2 serum was evaluated using microorganisms: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium , Aspergillus Niger and Candida albicans. An inhibition of growth for Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans in the final concentration of 50 μl/ml of F2 was observed.