The aromatic species Piper gaudichaudianum Kunth (Piperaceae) is widely used in Brazil for medicinal and ritualistic applications. In the current study, chemophenetic patterns were realized across season and circadian rhythm based on the chemical profile of essential oils (EOs) from leaves. Hydrodistilled essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID, and a new calculation of metabolite oxidation level, averaged for each individual molecule component of the EO, was used to explore the patterns of metabolism/biosynthesis. This new index used an intermediate calculation, the ‘weighted average redox standard’ (SRO), to enable a value for mixtures of metabolites to be generated, the ‘general mixture redox index’ (GMOR). The indices were subjected to a proof-of-concept approach by making comparison to outcomes from multivariate analyses, i.e., PCA and HCA. Chemical analysis demonstrated that the essential oils were dominated by sesquiterpenes, constructed of 15 classes of compound (C-skeletons), and 4 C-skeletons were recognized in the monoterpene group, giving a total of 19. The variation of chemical profiles was distinct at different phenological stages, but stronger chemical variation was evident between day and night as compared to season. Furthermore, due to comprehensive sampling across different regions, nine chemotypes were recognized, including those previously reported. The SRO and GMRO indices demonstrate that phenological variation of chemistry is mainly an outcome of redox fluctuations in terpene biosynthesis, changing from day to night. These indices also corroborate that chemical diversity is increased with oxidative metabolism. Lastly, the current study demonstrates pronounced phenotypic plasticity in P. gaudichaudianum, which makes it a suitable candidate to help further our understanding of chemophenetics and chemical ecology.

IntroductionPiper lhotzkyanum Kunth is known by the popular name beque-cheiroso and belongs to the family Piperaceae 1, 2 . It is a Brazilian medicinal plant that is greatly distributed in the Central and South Americas, mainly in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. There are no reports of cultivation for this species; however, its popular use is associated with its collection in wild sites to produce popular preparations and for commercialization in traditional fair markets. P. lhotzkyanum is commonly used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of stomach and gastrointestinal disorders, hyposuria, pain relief, and mainly for respiratory problems such as bronchial conditions 3,4 .Phytochemical studies on P. lhotzkyanum collected in high altitude sites 1150 -1200 m high led to the isolation

This study tested the hypothesis that “clonal chemical heritability is a crucial factor for the conservation of chemical uniformity of Piper essential oils in controlled monoclonal cultivation”. We asexually propagated first and second-generation clones of two medicinal and aromatic species, Piper gaudichaudianum Kunth and Piper mollicomum Kunth (Piperaceae), for use as experimental models since they show high chemical plasticity in the wild. Leaves from wild specimens of both species, and their respective cultivated specimens, were hydrodistilled in a Clevenger-type apparatus to produce essential oils (EOs). EOs were chemically characterised by GC-MS and GC-FID. The analysis identified 63 compounds in EO of P. mollicomum, which were predominantly monoterpenes, and 59 in EO of P. gaudichaudianum, which were predominantly sesquiterpenes. Evaluation of chemical diversity and oxi-reduction indices showed a loss of chemical homology across the intergenerational cline. Chemometric analysis indicated higher chemical plasticity between wild and intergenerational specimens of P. mollicomum, than for P. gaudichaudianum. EO compounds were significantly less oxidized throughout the generations in both species. Therefore, while clonal heritability is crucial to chemical homology, significant chemical plasticity is likely to occur when cultivated from wild specimens.

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O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver e caracterizar formulações de sistemas micelares, organogéis e emulsões (O/A), veiculados ou não ao extrato etanólico do fruto do oiti [Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch], visando seu uso tópico. Estas foram analisadas quanto as suas características organolépticas, macroscópicas e microscópicas. Testes para estabilidade acelerada, ótica, distribuição, tamanho de gotas e potencial zeta foram realizados, assim como avaliações in vitro de espalhabilidade e textura. Os organogéis e emulsões de oiti, veiculados ou não, se mantiveram estáveis, dentro da sua faixa ideal de pH; tendo suas características sensoriais apreciáveis por até 90 dias, demonstrando que é possível o desenvolvimento de sistemas organogéis e emulsões a partir do extrato etanólico do pericarpo do oiti, brindando fatores sensoriais que valorizam a flora brasileira, como matéria prima para produção de cosméticos.