Phytochemical Analysis of Extracts from the Atlantic Forest Wood Species

ABSTRACT The extractives are responsible for some characteristics of wood, such as color, smell, natural resistance to rot, taste, and abrasive properties. In addition, its content and composition vary between wood species. The objective of this work was to present a phytochemical analysis of wood extractives of native species from the Atlantic Forest, aiming at the characterization of some classes of secondary metabolites. Phytochemical tests for the detection of classes of metabolites present in Croton Urucurana Baill, Pelthoforum dubium (Spreng.) Taub., Jacaranda cuspidifolia Mart., and Hymenaea courbaril L. were carried out with crude wood, hydrophilic extract (methanol), and lipophilic extract (cyclohexane). Phytochemical analysis detected the presence of alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and triterpenoids in all the hydrophilic extracts of the species studied. Saponins were only detected in P. dubium and J. cuspidifolia. Phytochemical analysis permitted the identification of several metabolites, suggesting possible pharmacological actions of the species studied.