Chemical diversity of essential oils from Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit

Abstract

The essential oils are secondary metabolites formed by several chemical compounds that confer to these substances great social and economic importance. This diversity of compounds is generally determined by the genetic constitution of the plant, although environmental factors may also influence the type, amount, and concentrations of the compounds present in the essential oil. The aim of this work was to analyze the chemical diversity of the essential oils of native Hyptis pectinata plants collected in the state of Sergipe. The essential oils of 24 plants were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS/FID, revealing 30 compounds. Two clusters were formed by the cluster analysis. Cluster I consisted of 18 plants, and presented β-elemene (2.46-25.77%), β-caryophyllene (16.20-60.95%), germacrene D (0.00-21.59%), and caryophyllene oxide (5.38-42.21%) as major compounds. Cluster II consisted of six plants, and presented β-caryophyllene (5.68-15.57%), (Z)-β-guaiene (2.18-7.31%), caryophyllene oxide (1.58-22.89%), and calamusenone (23.12-64.36%) as major compounds. Strong correlation was observed between p-cymene and γ-terpinene (r=0.94), and between (E)-β-guaiene and lepidozene (r=0.95). Results of the present study indicate variation in the essential oil content, and show that the compounds β-elemene, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, (Z)-β-guaiene, caryophyllene oxide and calamusenone were detected in greater proportions in native plants of H. pectinata of the state of Sergipe. The knowledge of the chemical diversity found in H. pectinata plants can assist in the selection of plants of specific interest.