Influência Da Luz Na Composição Do Óleo Essencial De Eucalipto (Eucalyptus Urograndis) / Influence of Light on the Composition of Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus Urograndis)

Abstract

Eucalyptus urograndis is a species of eucalyptus widely cultivated in Brazil, its essential oil has biological properties such as bactericide and insecticide. However, essential oils are fragile if exposed to light and high temperatures. Due to the great availability of Eucalyptus urograndis, and its properties, this work aimed to extract, chemical characterize and verify the stability of the essential oil of Eucalyptus urograndis in light exposure. The oil was extracted by dragging water vapor, and characterized using two gas chromatographs, one with a flame ionization detector (CG-DIC) and one with a mass spectroscopy detector (CG-EM). The oil showed eight compounds, the major ones being eucalyptol and α-pinene. The oil was stored in the absence and presence of light and at room temperature. The two major compounds were monitored over 21 days, we observed that there is no evidence that the exposure factor or not to light is responsible for variations in the contents of the two major compounds in the oil.