ESSENTIAL OIL COMPOSITION OF ALOYSIA TRIPHYLLA (L'HERIT) BRITTON LEAVES CULTIVATED IN BOTUCATU, SãO PAULO, BRAZIL

Abstract

The family Verbenaceae comprises about 175 genera and 2300 species, distributed in tropics and subtropics, mainly in temperate zone of southern hemisphere. The lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla (L'Herit) Britton) is a perennial, bushy plant originally from South America. The essential oil of this plant is used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and perfumery industry. Therapeutic properties include febrifuge, sedative, stomachical, diuretic, and antispasmodic activities. The present work aimed to identify the chemical composition of essential oil of Aloysia triphylla leaves. The study was done in Lageado Experimental Farm of the Department of Plant Production-Horticulture, Agronomical Sciences College, São Paulo State University Campus of Botucatu. Leaves of lemon verbena from Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Garden, were collected in the end of winter (September/2001). The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation, in Clevenger apparatus. 100 g of leaves were used in each extraction. Four extractions were performed during three hours. The essential oils of the leaves were analyzed in Gas Chromatography Mass spectrometry (CG-MS, Shimadzu, QP-5000), equipped with capillary column DB-5 (30 m x 0,25 mm x 0,25 mm), split 1/35, injector for 220 C°, detector for 230 C°, dragged by gas He (1,0 mL/min), with programmed temperature for 60 C° to 240 C°, 3 C°/min. The identification of the substances was held by comparison of their mass spectra with data of the CG-MS (Nist 62 lib), literature references and retention index of Kovats. The main constituents of essential oils were geranial (29.54 %), neral (27.01 %), limonene (15.93 %), geranyl acetate (4.0 %) and geraniol (3.96 %). This species possesses high quantity of monoterpenes and low quantity of sesquiterpenes.

EFFECT OF HARVESTING DATE, DRYING METHOD, AND STORAGE PERIOD ON THE ESSENTIAL OIL PERCENTAGE AND COMPOSITION OF Aloysia triphylla (L’Her.) Britton LEAVES.

“…Asekun et al (2007) reported that method of drying affected the oil composition of Mentha longifolia. In addition, the results are very similar to those of Figueiredo et al (2004) who reported that the total main components in lemon verbena essential oil were 1,8-cineole, geranial, limonene, linalool, and spathulenol, and represented more than 50 % from the total components in lemon verbena essential oil.…”

“…Lemon verbena leaves contain high quality essential oil of lemon scent and its main constituents are limonene, spathulenol, geranial, citral, and linalool. The essential oil of lemon verbena contains several physiologically active substances, and is used as antispasmodic, antipyretic, sedative, stomachic, and diuretic, (Keville, 1999 andFigueiredo et al, 2004).…”

The anxiolytic-like effects of Aloysia polystachya (Griseb.) Moldenke (Verbenaceae) in mice

“…Leaves of Aloysia polystachya are used, in Argentina, for respiratory diseases (colds and cough), gastrointestinal pain (Filipoy, 1994), as antiemetic (Martinez Crovetto, 1981) and sedative remedy (Del Vitto et al, 1997). Therapeutic actions of other species of Aloysia (i.e., Aloysia triphilla) include febrifuge, sedative, stomachic, diuretic and antispasmodic activities (Oliveira de Figueiredo et al, 2002). However, we found no scientific references or experimental evaluation regarding its central nervous system activity, as well as informations about the toxicity of Aloysia polystachya.…”

“…The family Verbenaceae comprises about 175 genus and 2300 species, distributed in the tropics and subtropics, mainly in the temperate zone of Southern Hemisphere (Oliveira de Figueiredo et al, 2002). Mental ailments are heterogeneous diseases and will probably require a selected arsenal of drugs with different modes of action for successful treatment of their various manifestations (Baldessarini, 1990).…”

Humic Substances Effect and Climatic Tensions on the Growth and Essential Oil Quality of the Cultivated Aloysia. triphylla (Iran)

“…De Figueiredo et al (2004), researched essential oil compounds, extracted from leaves Aloysia triphylla collected in Sao Paulo (Brazil). The compounds with the highest percentage are: geranial (29.54%), neral (27.01 %), limonene (15.93 %), geranyl acetate (4.0 %), geraniol (3.96 %) (De Figueredo et al,2004).…”