Chemical Composition of Essential Oil from Ocimum selloi Benth. (Lamiaceae) Collected in Paty do Alferes (Brazil)

Brazil presents the highest vegetable genetic diversity of the world. Among the native plants of Brazil is Ocimum selloi Benth., an herbaceous annual plant of the Lamiaceae family. This medicinal specie has been used as anti-diarrheic, anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory and these properties have been observed in pre-clinical tests. Leaves of Ocimum selloi were collected from a private property in Paty do Alferes district (Rio de Janeiro State) in 11/2010, and dried at room temperature (28°C ± 2) at shade conditions. Essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation (Clevenger-type apparatus) for 4h and analyzed by GC-MS (Shimadzu, QP 5050-DB-5 capillary column –30mx0.25mmx0.25µm). Carrier gas was Helium (1.7mL/min); split ratio: 1:30. Temperature program: 50°C, rising to 180°C at 5°C/min, 180°C, rising to 280°C at 10°C/min. Injector temperature: 240°C and detector temperature: 230°C. Identifications of chemical compounds were made by matching their mass spectra and Kovat's indices (IK) values with known compounds reported in the literature. Sixteen compounds were found in the essential oil. The major compound found was methyl-chavicol (85.3%), followed by trans-caryophyllene (1.81%), germacrene-D (2.93%), bicyclogermacrene (3.29%), germacrene B (0.48%) and spathulenol (0.6%). Anethole were not observed in this essential oil. This results showed that this quemotype is similar to the one observed by Martins [1], found in Viçosa- Minas Gerais State (Brazil).

References: [1] Martins, ER. (1998) in Ming et al. Plantas Medicinais, Aromáticas e condimentares: avanços na pesquisa agronômica. UNESP. Botucatu. p.97–126