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Many plant species produce mixtures of odorous and volatile compounds known as essential oils (EOs). These mixtures play important roles in Nature and have been utilized by mankind for different purposes, such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, aromatherapy, and food flavorants. There are more than 3000 EOs reported in the literature, with approximately 300 in commercial use, including the EOs from Eucalyptus species. Most EOs from Eucalyptus species are rich in monoterpenes and many have found applications in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, food flavorants, and perfumes. Such applications are related to their diverse biological and organoleptic properties. In this study, we review the latest information concerning the chemical composition and biological activities of EOs from different species of Eucalyptus. Among the 900 species and subspecies of the Eucalyptus genus, we examined 68 species. The studies associated with these species were conducted in 27 countries. We have focused on the antimicrobial, acaricidal, insecticidal and herbicidal activities, hoping that such information will contribute to the development of research in this field. It is also intended that the information described in this study can be useful in the rationalization of the use of Eucalyptus EOs as components for pharmaceutical and agrochemical applications as well as food preservatives and flavorants.

Essential oils from leaves, ripe and unripe fruits of Schinus terebinthifolius growing in Brazil were investigated. Oil content from either ripe or unripe fruits was similar (4.65% and 3.98%, respectively). Sesquiterpenes (from 78.0% to 90.4%) dominated the oil content of both leaves and unripe fruit. The essential oils were tested in vitro for their allelopathic activity on germination and radicle growth of Lactuca sativa and Cucumis sativus at 1,000 and 10,000 µg mL-1concentrations. The three samples tested were more active in inhibiting the radicle growth for L. sativa (88.6-92.4%) than for C. sativus (50.5-84.5%) at 10,000 µg mL-1 concentration

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The syringyl/guaiacyl ratio was determined for six different Eucalyptus spp. wood clones cultivated in four regions in Brazil. The determinants were made by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and the results were compared with those obtained by alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation method. The S/G ratios were obtained considering all the identified lignin derivatives in the pyrograms and also using two groups of markers. The first group of markers consisted of guaiacol, 4-methylguaiacol, 4-vinylguaiacol, trans-isoeugenol, syringol, 4-methylsyringol, 4-vinylsyringol and trans-4-propenylsyringol compounds as markers. The second group included guaiacol, 4-methylguaiacol, 4-vinylguaiacol, vanillin, 4-ethylsyringol, 4-vinylsyringol, syringaldehyde, syringylacetone and trans-4-propenylsyringol. It was observed from the statistical analysis that the values of S/G obtained by Py-GC-MS using the two groups of markers did not differ significantly from those obtained by nitrobenzene oxidation method.

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A series of 12 3-(4-bromobenzyl)-5-(arylmethylene)-5 H-furan-2-one lactones, designed using the naturally occurring toxin nostoclides as a lead structure, were synthesized and screened as potential inhibitors of photosynthetic electron transport. The structures were confirmed by (1)H and (13)C NMR, MS, and IR analyses. Their biological activity was evaluated both in vitro, as the ability to interfere with light-driven reduction of ferricyanide by isolated spinach chloroplasts, and in vivo, as the capability to inhibite the oxygen production by intact Chlorella cells. Some of the compounds exhibited inhibitory properties in the micromolar range against basal and phosphorylating electron flow from water to K 3[Fe(CN) 6], with no effect on uncoupled electron flow. Thus, they seem to behave as energy-transfer inhibitors. Although poor solubility in water may limit their effectiveness, the active derivatives could present structures to be exploited for the design of new substances endowed with herbicidal activity.

Recebido em 10/2/09; aceito em 24/6/09; publicado na web em 13/11/09The essential oils of seven Myrtaceae species were investigated for its chemical composition and antibacterial activity. The volatile oils were characterized by a high content of monoterpenoids of which 1,8-cineole (88.0, 65.0 and 77.0% for Melaleuca hypericifolia, Callistemon viminalis and Callistemon citrinus respectively), terpinen-4-ol (47.0 and 49.8% for Melaleuca thymifolia and Callistemon polandii respectively) and α-pinene (54.5% for Kunzea ericoides) were the major components. The oil from M. linariifolia was characterized by a high concentration of methyleugenol (87.2%). The oil from Melaleuca thymifolia was the most active, exhibiting high antimicrobial activity against all tested bacteria.