Specialist laboratories
Amazonian Natural Substances
Objectives and purpose
The Laboratory of Amazonian Natural Substances (LSNA) is part of a chemistry platform shared by the UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG, Kourou) and the UAR Laboratoire Ecologie, Evolution, Interactions des Systèmes Amazoniens (LEEISA, Cayenne). Its primary aim is to generate new knowledge on the diversity of Amazonian natural substances.
The current research themes concern:
- Extraction and identification of bioactive molecules derived from Amazonian biodiversity (metabolites from plant and animal origins)
- Determination of the bioactivity of these molecules
- Chemical ecology, focusing on interactions and defense strategies in organisms
- Valorization of natural substances from agroforestry and agricultural co-products for applications in economically significant sectors, including pharmacology, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and materials based on wood or plant fibers
Location and Available Space
The platform is located on the IRD site, route de Montabo, 97300, Cayenne, and covers an area of 68 m².
Main Equipment
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
The ThermoFisher Trace 1610-ISQ700 GC-MS system allows the identification of Amazonian biomolecules with specific equipment for volatile substances. It is equipped with a multifunctional ThermoFisher TriPlus RSH Smart autosampler that offers great flexibility for analyzing substances through specific injection modes. The autosampler arm can automatically adapt to different syringes (classical, HeadSpace, or SPME) suitable for liquid extracts or volatile substances.
- Accelerated Solvent Extraction System
The ThermoFisher Dionex ASE 350 automated extractor facilitates high-throughput extraction of biomolecules from solid and semi-solid matrices of various natures. Compared to conventional Soxhlet equipment, this system enables faster extraction under standardized conditions (precisely controlled temperature, pressure, and solvent ratios) with reduced solvent consumption. Additionally, the ASE system is flexible to handle extraction cells ranging from 33 to 100 mL. These features ensure comparable and reproducible measurements, and the high-quality extracts obtained facilitates their analysis by chromatography.
- Standard Sample Preparation Equipment
Sample preparation can also be performed using magnetic or orbital stirrers, rotary evaporators, and a 2L-capacity lyophilizer.
The equipment available at LSNA is specifically dedicated to advancing knowledge on the diversity of Amazonian natural substances. Research projects, such as characterizing the aromatic quality of essential oils from rosewood or agarwood, studying the relationships between tree taxonomy, chemical composition, and wood properties, or understanding the chemical diversity of ant or dendrobatid frog venoms, are now feasible in French Guiana.