Victor holds a degree in Business Administration from the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences of Araguaia (2009), a degree in Pharmacy from the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT, 2014), and a degree in Chemistry from the University of Franca (UNIFRAN, 2018). He earned both his Master's (2017) and PhD (2022) in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP/USP). Following a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Franca (2023), he is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Research Participation Program at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). His expertise spans the isolation of active compounds from natural products, development and validation of analytical methodologies, quality control of herbal medicines, proficiency in liquid and gas chromatography, structural elucidation of organic compounds, and the evaluation of bioactive compounds' biological activities.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Pharmaceutical Science, Organic Chemistry
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Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Insecticidal activity of manuka essential oil triketones against two major lepidopteran pests Ephantus J Muturi, Mathew A Neidmann, Victor P Ribeiro, Erica J Goett, Jose L Ramirez, Kumudini M Meepagala Pest Management Science, 2026 BACKGROUND Caterpillars of moths and butterflies represent some of the most destructive agricultural pests and have become increasingly resistant to synthetic chemical insecticides. Manuka essential oil is known to be a potent alternative to synthetic insecticides, but its potential to control caterpillar pests remains underexplored. We evaluated the toxicity of manuka essential oil and its components against third‐instar larvae of Trichoplusia ni and Chrysodeixis includens . We also evaluated their potential phytotoxic effects against cabbage, soybean, and corn. RESULTS Manuka essential oil and one of its four fractions (fraction 2) were toxic to the two lepidopteran pests with fraction 2 being more toxic than the whole essential oil. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis revealed leptospermone, isoleptospermone, and flavesone to be the major components of fraction 2. Flavesone and manuka essential oil had similar toxicity to both caterpillar species, whereas leptospermone, isoleptospermone and grandiflorone, a triketone of manuka leaves, were more toxic to both caterpillar species than the whole essential oil. The median lethal dose (LD 50 ) values (μg/larva) for manuka essential oil, fraction 2, leptospermone, isoleptospermone, flavesone, and grandiflorone against T. ni were 50, 25, 20, 20, 45 and 18, respectively and 42, 32, 28, 20, 41, and 14, respectively against C. includens . Manuka essential oil and its constituents were phytotoxic to cabbage, soybean, and corn, with cabbage and corn being the most and the least affected plants, respectively. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that manuka essential oil and its components are promising biopesticides, but improved delivery systems are needed to reduce phytotoxicity. Published 2026. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Phytotoxic Activity of Umbelliferone Derivatives Produced by Microbial Transformation Victor Pena Ribeiro, Kumudini M. Meepagala, Joanna Bajsa-Hirschel ACS Agricultural Science and Technology, 2026 The search for natural herbicide alternatives is increasingly relevant in the context of environmental concerns and herbicide-resistant weeds. In this study, umbelliferone, a 7-hydroxycoumarin widely found in plants, particularly in Rutaceae and Apiaceae, was subjected to microbial biotransformation using Cunninghamella elegans and Aspergillus brasiliensis under two different culture conditions. Five structurally distinct derivatives were produced during fermentation. The structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by high-resolution mass spectrometry. All compounds, including the precursor, were evaluated for phytotoxic activity against Lactuca sativa (dicot) and Agrostis stolonifera (monocot). Compound 6 exhibited the strongest inhibition, completely preventing seed germination in both species. In silico prediction of physicochemical properties using SwissADME indicated that lipophilicity, hydrogen bonding potential, and polar surface area may contribute to the observed biological effects. These findings show the potential of microbial systems to diversify natural scaffolds and support their application in the development of novel plant-derived bioherbicides.
Phytotoxic, antifungal and antiplasmodial properties of diterpenes isolated from Copaifera resins Victor Pena Ribeiro, Kumudini Meepagala, Prabin Tamang, Jairo Kenupp Bastos, Joanna Bajsa-Hirschel Journal of Natural Pesticide Research, 2025 Diterpenes are bioactive secondary metabolites with diverse pharmacological and agricultural applications. In this study, four diterpenes— ent -polyalthic acid (1), ent -dihydroagathic acid (2), ent -kaurenoic acid (3), and ent -kaurenol (4)—were isolated from copaiba oil-resins and evaluated for their phytotoxic, antifungal, and antiplasmodial activities. Phytotoxicity assays revealed herbicidal activity against Agrostis stolonifera , with ent -polyalthic acid and ent -kaurenoic acid exhibiting the highest efficacy, inhibiting seed germination. ent -dihydroagathic acid also showed phytotoxicity against Lemna paucicostata with IC 50 value of 3.8 µM. All compounds inhibited the growth of Colletotrichum fragariae in a bioautography bioassay, with ent -kaurenoic acid exhibiting the highest activity. Molecular docking studies demonstrated favorable binding affinities of ent -polyalthic acid and ent -dihydroagathic acid to Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase. Pharmacokinetic assessments indicated adherence to Lipinski’s Rule of Five and suitable properties for oral bioavailability. These findings shows the potential of these diterpenes, particularly ent -polyalthic acid, as lead compound for herbicidal and antimalarial drug development.
Biotechnological Potential of Seaweeds from Bahia, Brazil: Metabolomic insights, Photoprotection and Antioxidant Activity Keila Almeida Santana, Isadora de Jesus da Silva, Victor Pena Ribeiro, José Marcos de Castro Nunes, Hosana Maria Debonsi, Ian Castro‐Gamboa, Lorena Rigo Gaspar, Gustavo Souza dos Santos, Aníbal de Freitas Santos Júnior Chemistry and Biodiversity, 2025 Seaweeds have wide biotechnological applications. This study evaluated the chemical profile, photoprotective, and antioxidant potential of Padina sp., Caulerpa sertularioides, and Solieria filiformis collected in Bahia, Brazil. Chemical characterization by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) confirmed fucosterol in Padina sp., β‐sitosterol in C. sertularioides, and cholesterol in S. filiformis alongside fatty acids and aromatic metabolites; multivariate analyses supported species‐specific chemical patterns. The extracts exhibited ultraviolet (UV) absorption, in specific the UVA range, and were nonirritant in the Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) Test Guideline (TG) 491 assay. In human keratinocytes (HaCaT), C. sertularioides reduced UV‐induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 75%, whereas Padina sp. and S. filiformis achieved 42% reduction. Conversely, extracts exhibited photodegradation in the UV region and phototoxic potential in the OECD TG 432 (3T3 neutral red uptake, NRU) assay. Because these trials used complex crude extracts, future studies should optimize the extraction process, fractionate bioactive‐rich fractions, and isolate key compounds. These results highlight Brazilian algae as promising sources of new compounds and serve as a starting point for further investigations.
α-Copaene is a potent repellent against the Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri Rodrigo Facchini Magnani, Haroldo Xavier Linhares Volpe, Rejane Angélica Grigio Luvizotto, Tatiana Aparecida Mulinari, Thiago Trevisoli Agostini, Jairo Kenupp Bastos, Victor Pena Ribeiro, Michele Carmo-Sousa, Nelson Arno Wulff, Leandro Peña, Walter S. Leal Scientific Reports, 2025 The Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri, severely threatens citrus production worldwide by transmitting the greening (= Huanglongbing)—causing bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. There is growing evidence that the push-pull strategy is suitable to partially mitigate HLB by repelling ACP with transgenic plants engineered to produce repellents and attracting the vector to plants with a minimal disease transmission rate. Species that pull ACP away from commercial citrus plants have been identified, and transgenic plants that repel ACP have been developed. The concept of a repellent-producing plant was first demonstrated with an Arabidopsis line engineered to overexpress a gene controlling the synthesis of β-caryophyllene and other sesquiterpenes. We have analyzed the volatile organic compounds released by this Arabidopsis line and identified α-humulene, α-copaene, and trace amounts of β-elemene, in addition to β-caryophyllene. Behavioral measurements demonstrated that α-copaene repels ACP at doses ca. 100× lower than those needed for β-caryophyllene repellence. In contrast, α-humulene is innocuous at the level emitted by the transgenic plant. We confirmed that a mixture of the three sesquiterpenes in the ratio 1:100:10 repels ACP. Likewise, a commercial sample of copaiba oil containing the three sesquiterpenes, in a proportion similar to that in the transgenic plant, repelled ACP.
Constituents From Brazilian Propolis Against Edwardsiella ictaluri and Flavobacterium covae, Two Bacteria Affecting Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Victor P. Ribeiro, Jairo K. Bastos, Marcuslene D. Harries, Phaedra N. Page, Natascha Techen, Kumudini M. Meepagala Journal of Fish Diseases, 2025 Edwardsiella ictaluri and Flavobacterium covae are two bacteria species that cause diseases in farm‐raised channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) that cause heavy economic damage to the aquaculture industry, particularly to the channel catfish farming. In search for environmentally benign antibacterial compounds active against E. ictaluri and F. covae, we investigated the constituents isolated from Brazilian red, brown and green propolis. We have also synthetically modified active constituents to see if lipophilicity plays a role in enhancing antibacterial activities. Vestitol, neovestitol and methylvestitol were found to be the active constituents with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) relative to drug control florfenicol (RDCF) values (MIC−RDCF) of 7.6, 7.6 and 7.9 mg/L, respectively, against F. covae. The activity against E. ictaluri was not significant.
Bioactive secondary metabolites from Curvularia spp.: Natural alternatives for pest management in agriculture Victor Pena Ribeiro, Joanna Bajsa-Hirschel, Prabin Tamang, Marcuslene D. Harries, Kumudini M. Meepagala Journal of Natural Pesticide Research, 2025 The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture has raised concerns due to their environmental impact, development of resistant pest strains, and potential health risks. As a result, interest in safer alternative compounds for pest management is increasing. Fungal secondary metabolites, renowned for their structural diversity and biological activities, have emerged as promising alternatives to synthetic pesticides. The utilization of these natural compounds offers a sustainable approach to managing agricultural pests. This study investigates the chemical composition and biological activities of secondary metabolites isolated from a Curvularia spp. , focusing on their phytotoxic and antifungal properties. Seven compounds—tyrosol, phenethyl alcohol, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)phenol, tyramine, and N -(4-hydroxyphenethyl)acetamide—were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the fungus, marking the first report of these metabolites in Curvularia species. The ethyl acetate extract demonstrated significant phytotoxicity against Agrostis stolonifera , a monocot, with tyrosol and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde identified as the active compounds. Additionally, phenethyl alcohol and N-(4-hydroxyphenethyl)acetamide exhibited antifungal activity against Colletotrichum fragariae , the causative agent of strawberry anthracnose. These findings support the potential of Curvularia spp . as a source of bioactive compounds with applications in agriculture and plant disease management for sustainable crop protection strategies.
Evaluating the efficacy of endophytic fungal compounds as biopesticides in agriculture Debora Luiza Costa Barreto, Camila Rodrigues de Carvalho, Victor Pena Ribeiro, Láuren Machado Drumond de Souza, Elisa Amorim Amâncio Teixeira, Henrique Oliveira Chuman Borges, Sonia Claudia do Nascimento de Queiroz, Kumudini Mangalika Meepagala, Stephen Oscar Duke, Charles Lowell Cantrell, Luiz Henrique Rosa Fungal Endophytes Volume II Applications in Agroecosystems and Plant Protection, 2025
Genotoxicity and toxicological evaluations of Brazilian red propolis oral ingestion in a preclinical rodent model Jennyfer Andrea Aldana-Mejía, Aline Mayrink de Miranda, Gari Vidal Ccana-Ccapatinta, Luciana Silva de Araújo, Victor Pena Ribeiro, Caroline Arruda, Samuel Nascimento, Iara Squarisi, Tábata Esperandim, Karoline S. de Freitas, Saulo D. Ozelin, Denise Crispim Tavares, Fernando Silva Ramalho, Jairo Kenupp Bastos Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2023
Beta-caryophyllene as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and re-epithelialization activities in a rat skin wound excision model Lucas Fernando Sérgio Gushiken, Fernando Pereira Beserra, Maria Fernanda Hussni, Murilo Tireli Gonzaga, Victor Pena Ribeiro, Patrícia Fernanda de Souza, Jacqueline Costa Lima Campos, Taís Nader Chrysostomo Massaro, Carlos Alberto Hussni, Regina Kiomi Takahira, Priscyla Daniely Marcato, Jairo Kenupp Bastos, Cláudia Helena Pellizzon Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2022
Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Copaifera pubiflora Benth oleoresin and its major metabolite ent-hardwickiic acid Guilherme Venâncio Símaro, Marivane Lemos, Jonas Joaquim Mangabeira da Silva, Victor Pena Ribeiro, Caroline Arruda, Ayda Henriques Schneider, Carlos Wagner de Souza Wanderley, Luiza Junqueira Carneiro, Roberta Lopes Mariano, Sérgio Ricardo Ambrósio, Sérgio Faloni de Andrade, Vilmar C. Banderó-Filho, Astrid Sasse, Helen Sheridan, Márcio Luis Andrade e Silva, Jairo Kenupp Bastos Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2021
Nonclinical Toxicological Studies of Brazilian Red Propolis and Its Primary Botanical Source Dalbergia ecastaphyllum Jennyfer A. Aldana-Mejía, Gari V. Ccana-Ccapatinta, Iara S. Squarisi, Samuel Nascimento, Matheus H. Tanimoto, Victor P. Ribeiro, Caroline Arruda, Heloiza Nicolella, Tábata Esperandim, Arthur B. Ribeiro, Karoline S. de Freitas, Lucas H. D. da Silva, Saulo D. Ozelin, Lucas T. S. Oliveira, Alex L. A. Melo, Denise C. Tavares, Jairo K. Bastos Chemical Research in Toxicology, 2021
Effects of cytokines ifn-γ and tgf-β on the functional activity of blood mononuclear cells against giardia lamblia Iranian Journal of Parasitology, 2021
