Essential oils (EOs) were extracted from Eugenia patrisii, E. punicifolia, and Myrcia tomentosa, specimens A and B, using hydrodistillation. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify the volatile constituents present, and the antioxidant capacity of EOs was determined using diphenylpicryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. For E. patrisii, germacrene D (20.03%), bicyclogermacrene (11.82%), and (E)-caryophyllene (11.04%) were identified as the major constituents of the EOs extracted from specimen A, whereas specimen B primarily comprised γ-elemene (25.89%), germacrene B (8.11%), and (E)-caryophyllene (10.76%). The EOs of E. punicifolia specimen A contained β-Elemene (25.12%), (E)-caryophyllene (13.11%), and bicyclogermacrene (9.88%), while specimen B was composed of (E)-caryophyllene (11.47%), bicyclogermacrene (5.86%), β-pinene (5.86%), and γ-muurolene (5.55%). The specimen A of M. tomentosa was characterized by γ-elemene (12.52%), germacrene D (11.45%), and (E)-caryophyllene (10.22%), while specimen B contained spathulenol (40.70%), α-zingiberene (9.58%), and γ-elemene (6.89%). Additionally, the chemical composition of the EOs was qualitatively and quantitatively affected by the collection period. Furthermore, the EOs of the studied specimens, especially specimen A of E. punicifolia, showed a greater antioxidant activity in DPPH rather than TEAC, as represented by a significantly high inhibition percentage (408.0%).

Medicinal and aromatic plants present important active compounds that have potential for use in food, pharmaceutical, and agriculture industries. In this sense, the present work aimed to conduct a literature review on the potential applications of essential oils from Lamiaceae species. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities were evaluated. The importance of this study is demonstrated as a way to theoretically provide information on the use of different plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family, especially with regard to the physical, chemical, and biological properties of its essential oils.

Leaves of Lippia thymoides (Verbenaceae) were dried in an oven at 40, 50 and 60 °C and the kinetic of drying and the influence of the drying process on the chemical composition, yield, and DPPH radical scavenging activity of the obtained essential oils were evaluated. The composition of the essential oils was determined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-flame ionization detection analyses. The influence of drying on the chemical composition of the essential oils of L. thymoides was evaluated by multivariate analysis, and their antioxidant activity was investigated via the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The Midilli model was the most appropriate to describe the behavior of drying kinetic data of L. thymoides leaves. Thymol was the major compound for all analyzed conditions; the maximum content was obtained from fresh leaves (62.78 ± 0.63%). The essential oils showed DPPH radical scavenging activity with an average of 73.10 ± 12.08%, and the fresh leaves showed higher inhibition (89.97 ± 0.31%). This is the first study to evaluate the influence of drying on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of L. thymoides essential oils rich in thymol.

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Propolis is a balsamic product obtained from vegetable resins by exotic Africanized bees Apis mellifera L., transported and processed by them, originating from the activity that explores and maintains these individuals. Because of its vegetable and natural origins, propolis is a complex mixture of different compound classes; among them are the volatile compounds present in the aroma. In this sense, in the present study we evaluated the volatile fraction of propolis present in the aroma obtained by distillation and simultaneous extraction, and its chemical composition was determined using coupled gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and flame ionization detection. The majority of compounds were sesquiterpene and hydrocarbons, comprising 8.2–22.19% α-copaene and 6.2–21.7% β-caryophyllene, with additional compounds identified in greater concentrations. Multivariate analysis showed that samples collected from one region may have different chemical compositions, which may be related to the location of the resin’s production. This may be related to other bee products.

The volatiles of Cyperus giganteus (Cyperaceae), cultivated in the state of Pará were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The major components identified in the rhizome oil of C. giganteus were cyperotundone (25.9%) and cyperene (10.4%).

Qualitative analyses by GC-FID and GC-MS of the neutral fractions from hexane extract of the leaves, stems and roots of Croton sellowii were carried out. Sesquiterpenoids, n-alkanes, aliphatic esters and aliphatic alcohols and alkyl benzene derivatives were identified. Caryophyllene oxide (46.8%) and trans-caryophyllene (40.8%) were most abundant in the leaves, while caryophyllene oxide (26.5%) and cubenol (16.7%) were the main constituents in the stems. In the roots, besides mesitylene (15.2%), the sesquiterpenes γ-(7.6%), α-(6.9%) and β-eudesmol (5.5%) were the most abundant components. All identified constituents are described for the first time in this species.

Qualitative analysis by GC–MS of the three non‐polar fractions from the hexane extract of Aristolochia acutifolia Duchtr. was carried out and 47 constituents were identified. The major groups of constituents identified away these fractions were sesquiterpenes (spathulenol, 23.1%; β‐bisabolene, 9.0%; α‐eudesmol, 6.9%; α‐selinene, 5.2%; and trans‐α‐bergamotene, 5.1%), esters (ethyl hexadecanoate, 23.0%; ethyl 9‐octadecenoate, 11.6%; and methyl hexadecanoate, 7.9%), phenylpropanoids (myristicin, 35.3%; and elemicin, 15.8%), carboxilic acids (oleic, 22.8%; and palmitic acids, 20.3%), and n‐alkanes (pentadecane, 11.7%). Some constituents identified are described for the first time in this genus. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.