Chemical Diversity and Therapeutic Effects of Essential Oils of Aniba Species from the Amazon: A Review

Abstract

Lauraceae families have great diversity in the world’s tropical regions and are represented mainly by aromatic shrubs and trees with significant production of essential oils (EOs). This work presents a review of the EO chemical profiles from specimens of Aniba, including their seasonal variations, geographical distributions, and biological activities in the Amazon biome. Based on the survey, 15 species were reviewed, representing 167 oil samples extracted from leaves, twig barks, and woods. Brazilian Amazon was the most representative geographic area in the number of specimens, highlighting the locations Belém, (Pará state, PA) (3 spp., 37 samples), Santarém (PA) (3 spp., 10 samples), Carajás (PA) (3 spp., 7 samples), and Manaus (Amazonas state, AM) (3 spp., 16 samples). The main compound classes identified in oils were benzenoids and phenylpropanoids, represented by 1-nitro-2-phenylethane, benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate and methyleugenol, along with terpenoids, especially monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, such as linalool, α-phellandrene, β-phellandrene, β-selinene, and spathulenol. The EOs from Aniba showed considerable variation in the chemical profiles according to season and collection site. The hierarchical cluster analysis classified the samples into two main groups according to chemical composition. This review highlights its comprehensive and up-to-date information on history, conservation, traditional uses, chemosystematics, pharmacological potential of Aniba species.

Essential Oil of the Plants Growing in the Brazilian Amazon: Chemical Composition, Antioxidants, and Biological Applications

“…Essential oils comprise different organic compounds that have conjugated carbon double bonds, where the functional species are hydroxyl radicals, which can transfer hydrogen, inhibit free radicals, and minimize oxidative stress [ 65 ]. Essential oils with antioxidant properties are preferred over synthetic antioxidants because the former are safer for human health and are eco-friendly [ 66 , 67 ].…”

“…Toxicity studies of essential oils aim to discover new natural insecticidal and larvicidal agents that can fight against several vectors of public health concern [ 99 ]. It is important to highlight that these studies have increased steadily due to the strong resistance of microbes to synthetic insecticides that can cause serious problems to the environment, with risk of contamination of the air, soil, and water [ 65 , 100 ]. These problems have expanded the search for and development of natural pesticides, especially aromatic plants in the Amazon region, as described in a study performed with the essential oil of the aerial parts of the species Mesosphaerum suaveolens collected in three different periods (intermediate rainy, and dry).…”

Seasonal Variation in Essential Oil Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Aniba canelilla (Lauraceae): A Reliable Source of 1-Nitro-2-phenylethane

“…The Lauraceae comprises around 50 genera and 2500 to 3000 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions; mainly, taxa are aromatic trees and shrubs rich in essential oils [1,2]. Lauraceae is native and non-endemic in Brazil, with 27 genera and 466 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas, known as climbers [3].…”

Essential Oil Chemotypes and Genetic Variability of Cinnamomum verum Leaf Samples Commercialized and Cultivated in the Amazon

“…Systematics of Cinnamomum species primarily depend on morphological character analysis, which is often difficult due to its vast diversity, genetic variation, morphological similarity between species, and strict seasonality in flowering and fruiting [ 20 ]. In addition to morphology, chemotaxonomy is a supportive tool for systematics, and the volatile chemical profile, in particular, has been utilized in complex plant groups, such as Lauraceae [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”