About This Project

Pilocarpus plants produce pilocarpine, a key drug for treating glaucoma. However, its precise cellular distribution in the plant is unknown. Studying the cellular level of this alkaloid could reveal the genes or proteins involved in its biosynthesis, enabling the development of alternative production methods. This is urgent, as Pilocarpus species are threatened with extinction, risking the loss of the only natural source for this blindness-treating drug.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Glaucoma is an eye disease that can lead to blindness, affecting over 76 million people worldwide. One treatment is pilocarpine, a plant-derived alkaloid that lowers intraocular pressure. The main natural source, Pilocarpus microphyllus, is being over-harvested and is threatened.

Plant cell biology helps us understand pilocarpine biosynthesis by revealing which cells produce it. Through these cell types, researchers can uncover the enzymes, how their activity is regulated, and how environmental factors influence pathway flux, elucidating the precise mechanisms controlling pilocarpine production.

This knowledge is necessary for developing sustainable solutions—whether by optimizing cultivation practices, enhancing biosynthesis through metabolic engineering, or transferring the pathway into microbial systems for large-scale production. Ultimately, this research ensures a stable supply of pilocarpine while protecting wild plant populations and ecosystems.

What is the significance of this project?

Understanding the distribution of pilocarpine in Pilocarpus plants can help us move forward in the comprehension of its biosynthesis, since plant cell biology reveals the cell types, enzymes, and environmental factors that regulate pilocarpine biosynthesis. This knowledge could ultimately lead to improved cultivation, engineered biosynthesis, or transfer of the pathway to microbes, ensuring a sustainable pilocarpine supply while protecting wild populations and assisting people with glaucoma.

What are the goals of the project?

Whole plants will be collected (leaves, stems, and roots) from at least three specimens of Pilocarpus microphyllus to conduct an integrated analysis of their chemical and anatomical characteristics. By combining techniques such as LC/MS, spectroscopy, and microscopic analysis, we will investigate the tissue-specific distribution of pilocarpine, the principal alkaloid of pharmaceutical interest in this species. Special attention will be given to comparing chemical profiles across different plant organs and linking these results with their anatomical and histological features. Plant material will be collected in the Carajás Forest (Amazon Rainforest) between late 2025 and early 2026. The subsequent analytical phase will extend through 2027, encompassing metabolite detection and correlation with anatomical structures. The results of this project are expected to provide new insights into the localization and biosynthetic context of pilocarpine within the plant.