Exploring Fine Compounds and Biomass Potential in Cabralea canjerana and Cordia americana Wood

Mateus Berwaldt Santos ^1,2,3* Eduardo Ceretta Moreira ⁴ Amanda Fonseca Leitzke ⁵ Maurício Alves Ramos ⁶ Patricia Soares Bilhalva dos Santos ⁷ Silvia Helena Fuentes ² Darci Alberto Gatto ²

• ¹ Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country, Plaza Europa, 1, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
• ² Post-Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Gomes Carneiro, 1, 96010-610, Pelotas, Brazil, Pelotas, Brazil
• ³ Pelotas Campus, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Sul-rio-grandense, Praça Vinte de Setembro, 455, 96015-360, Pelotas, Brazil, Pelotas, Brazil
• ⁴ Post-Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Federal University of Pampa, Av. Maria Anunciação Gomes de Godoy, 1650, 96413-172, Bagé, Brazil, Bagé, Brazil
• ⁵ Post-Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Pelotas, University Campus, 96160-000, Capão do Leão, Brazil, Capão do Leão, Brazil
• ⁶ Wood Industrial Engineering, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Conde de Porto Alegre, 793, 96010-290, Pelotas, Brazil, Pelotas, Brazil
• ⁷ Engineering Center, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Benjamin Constant, 989, 96010-020, Pelotas, Brazil, Pelotas, Brazil

Cabralea canjerana and Cordia americana, two Brazilian tree species found across various states, serve a range of applications from sawmill products to folk medicine. Extractives, non-structural wood components, are utilized for diverse purposes, including natural dyes, preservatives, and medicinal products. After a comprehensive search of the literature, no publications were found characterizing the chemical composition of C. canjerana and C. americana wood. This increases the need to research these species and learn more about their potential. The vast diversity of Brazil's tree species sometimes complicates the selection process for extraction purposes, highlighting the importance of anatomical wood identification. This study aims to evaluate the presence of fine molecules with important biological activity or industrial value in the wood extractives of C. canjerana and C. americana, proposing potential uses for the extracted lignocellulosic biomass and providing anatomical identification support for these species. Characterization of the wood included analysis of ash, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin content. Extraction methods employed ethanol, ethanol-toluene, hot water, and 1% soda, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for chemical analysis. Anatomical characteristics were determined using histological slides. Cordia americana displayed a 53.61% holocellulose content in relation to the dry mass, suitable for paper production, while Cabralea canjerana, with a 55.92% content, was deemed even more appropriate. GC-MS analysis identified several significant molecules in the extractives, including Phenol, 2,4-bis(1-phenylethyl), which is potentially effective in breast cancer drug development, and Gestrinone, a possible treatment for endometriosis. The anatomical examination of the C. canjerana and C. americana samples confirmed their species identity, aligning with the study's objectives.