1. Studies on medicinal plants involving the establishment of morphological, histochemical and microchemical standards and quality control of plant raw materials;
2. Anatomical, histochemical and microchemical studies on plants from Brazilian coastal dunes, with emphasis on coastal dunes in the state of Rio de Janeiro;
3. Studies on unconventional food plants (PANC);
4. Studies of the development, structure, histochemistry, and microchemistry of galls formed in plants from coastal dune ecosystems in Rio de Janeiro state;
5. Food microscopy with the establishment of standards for food raw materials and investigation of contaminants, adulterations and falsifications.

1. Chemical, biological, and genetic studies of plant species that produce oleoresins, focusing on their economic potential for the perfume, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.;
2. Studies focused on the ethno-sustainable development of bioproducts derived from associated traditional knowledge;
3. Studies on public policies and regulatory and sanitary aspects involving medicinal plants and herbal medicines;
4. Analysis of the medicinal plant and herbal medicine market in Brazil, considering the impact of health regulations applied to the registration of these products, as well as the informal and illegal market that coexists with regular products;
5. A historical, ethical, and legal analysis of access to biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge in Brazil and the world.

1. Studies of biotransformation using endophytic fungi and biocatalysis reactions with natural products mediated by lipases (hydrolysis reactions, acylations, epoxidations, chiral resolutions and asymmetric syntheses) to search for new bioactive products;
2. Phytochemical studies and evaluation of biological and pharmacological activities (Isolation of natural products from plant species and structural elucidation using spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques);
3. Evaluation of phytotoxic and larvicidal activity (Activity tests with natural products);
4. Evaluation of the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of natural and synthetic products using different in vitro methodologies;
5. Studies of plant chemosystematics (focus on pharmacological activities).

Responsible professors: Ivana Correa Ramos Leal, Maria Isabel Sampaio dos Santos and Naomi Kato Simas

1. Natural History, History of Pharmacognosy in Brazil and Historical Ethnobotany: qualitative and quantitative analysis of historical documentation from the mid-16th century to the mid-20th century in order to record and inventory the legacy of explorer travelers and naturalists, researchers and professors in the field of medicinal plants, the traditional use of useful and medicinal plants in South America and the diachronic understanding of Pharmacognosy in Brazil;

2. Evidence-based phytotherapy: systematic reviews in the search for clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of medicinal plants and herbal medicines;

3. Science Communication, Education and Social Media: the impact of social media as a teaching tool for elementary and secondary education and for science communication in the field of Botany;

4. Anti-aging action of Brazilian medicinal plants: antioxidant activity and inhibition of enzymes involved in the aging process by plant extracts from native species.

Professor in charge: Leopoldo Clemente Baratto

Professor in charge: Luiz Eduardo Rodrigues de Carvalho

Laboratory providing specialized services in the area of food quality, offering technical support and guidance to students in supervised food internships in the Pharmacy course, as well as to undergraduate research, master's and doctoral students seeking analyses relevant to their projects.

Responsible teacher: Mirian Ribeiro Leite Moura

Responsible technicians:
Angelo Paschoalette – Chemist / Specialist in Laboratory Safety & Waste Management
Osman Feitosa da Silva – Pharmacist/Master in Natural Products Chemistry and PhD in Chemical and Biochemical Process Technology.
Paula de Alvarenga Bastos – Pharmacist/Specialist in legislation and health surveillance/Master's student in Pharmaceutical Science and Technology.

Our research involves the development of biomaterials related to human health, primarily focusing on micro- and nanoencapsulation and controlled release of bioactive substances, preferably of natural origin. In the area of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, the focus is on the preparation and characterization of magnetic nanoparticles for medical applications ("drug delivery" and magnetic hyperthermia) and biotechnological applications (enzyme immobilization).

Responsible teacher: Priscilla Vanessa Finotelli