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• Demuner, A
• Almeida Barbosa, L
• Gonçalves Magalhaes, C
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• Alvares Maltha, C
• Lelis Pinheiro, A
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• Demuner, A
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• Gonçalves Magalhaes, C
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Molecules 2011, 16(2), 1181-1191; doi:10.3390/molecules16021181

Article

Seasonal Variation in the Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Volatile Oils of Three Species of Leptospermum (Myrtaceae) Grown in Brazil

Antonio Jacinto Demuner ¹ , Luiz Claudio Almeida Barbosa ^1,* , Cassia Gonçalves Magalhaes ¹ , Cleber Jose Da Silva ¹ , Celia Regina Alvares Maltha ¹  and Antonio Lelis Pinheiro ²

¹ Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Av. P. H. Rolfs, s/n, 36570-000, Vicosa, MG, Brazil ² Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Av. P. H. Rolfs, s/n, 36570-000, Vicosa, MG, Brazil

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 27 December 2010; in revised form: 11 January 2011 / Accepted: 18 January 2011 / Published: 26 January 2011

Download PDF Full-Text [256 KB, uploaded 26 January 2011 16:24 CET]

Abstract: This study investigates the seasonal variation of three species of Leptospermum (Myrtaceae) grown in Brazil. The chemical composition of the volatile oils of L. flavescens and L. petersonii did not show any significant seasonal variation in the major components, while for Leptospermum madidum subsp. sativum the levels of major constituents of the volatile oils varied with the harvest season. Major fluctuations in the composition of L. madidum subsp. sativum oil included α-pinene (0–15.2%), β-pinene (0.3–18.5%), α-humulene (0.8–30%), 1,8-cineole (0.4–7.1%) and E-caryophyllene (0.4–11.9%). Levels of β-pinene (0.3–5.6%), terpinen-4-ol (4.7–7.2%) and nerolidol (55.1–67.6%) fluctuated seasonally in the L. flavescens oil. In L. petersonii, changes were noted for geranial (29.8–32.8%), citronellal (26.5–33.9%) and neral (22.7–23.5%). The activity of the volatile oils against the tested bacteria differed, depending on season the oils were obtained. In general, the volatile oils were more active against Gram-positive bacteria.

Keywords: Myrtaceae; Leptospermum; seasonal variation; essential oils; antibacterial activity

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