In partnership with research institutions and environmental agencies, the project is dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of Pilocarpus microphyllus, a species native to the Amazon and threatened with extinction. ITV’s work focuses on generating ecological, genetic, and physiological studies to support conservation and cultivation strategies for the species in natural and managed areas.
The species is the main source of pilocarpine, an alkaloid of high pharmaceutical value used to treat diseases such as glaucoma and xerostomia. The lack of domestication programs and the low availability of leaves in native areas have compromised the sustainability of the production chain. The project seeks to reverse this scenario through integrated scientific approaches, with emphasis on the Carajás National Forest, where the species still occurs naturally.
The ecological studies involve the identification of floral visitors and the characterization of the jaborandi pollination syndrome, with the aim of understanding the interactions between plants and pollinators and their role in the reproduction of the species. Genetic and molecular studies aim to identify genes and regulators associated with pilocarpine production. In the field of plant physiology, the project is investigating the effects of nutrients such as nitrogen, iron, and manganese on plant growth and the synthesis of bioactive compounds, as well as evaluating management strategies that favor the regeneration and cultivation of the species.