Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Essential Oils from Two Pereskia Species Grown in Brazil

• Published in: Natural product communications Vol. 9; no. 12; pp. 1805 - 1808
• Main Authors: Souza, Lucéia Fátima, de Barros, Ingrid Bergman Inchausti, Mancini, Emilia, Martino, Laura De, Scandolera, Elia, Feo, Vincenzo De
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Brazil; Cactaceae - chemistry; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Germination - drug effects; Oils, Volatile - analysis; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Brazil; Essential oil; Chemical composition; Biological activities; Pereskia aculeata; Pereskia grandifolia
• ISSN: 1934-578X; 1555-9475
• DOI: 10.1177/1934578X1400901237

The chemical composition of the essential oils of Pereskia aculeata Mill. and P. grandifolia Haw. (Cactaceae), grown in Brazil, was studied by means of GC and GC-MS. In all, 37 compounds were identified, 30 for P. aculeata and 15 for P. grandifolia. Oxygenated diterpenes are the main constituents, both in the oil of P. grandifolia (55.5%) and in that of P. aculeata (29.4%). The essential oils were evaluated for their in vitro phytotoxic activity against germination and initial radicle growth of Raphanus sativus L., Sinapis arvensis L., and Phalaris canariensis L. seeds. The essential oil of P. grandifolia, at all doses tested, significantly inhibited the radicle elongation of R. sativus. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was assayed against ten bacterial strains. The essential oils showed weak inhibitory activity against the Gram-positive pathogens.