O óleo essencial das folhasde Rollinia leptopetala foi obtido por hidrodestilação em aparelho de Clevenger e a sua composição química foi analisada através de CG-EM. Com essa técnica, foi possível identificar 22 constituintes em uma mistura complexa demonoterpenos (54,5%) e sesquiterpenos (45,5%). O principal componente encontradonas folhas foi o biciclogermacreno (22,47%). O óleo essencial foi avaliado numa linhagem de Staphylococcus aureus portadora de bomba de efluxo responsável pela resistência norfloxacino. Embora o óleo essencial não tenha apresentado atividade antibacteriana relevante in vitro, ele apresentou atividade moduladora da resistência, ou seja, em combinação com o norfloxacino observou-se uma redução de 4x na concentração inibitória mínima do antibiótico, indicando inibição de bomba de efluxo.

The essential oil from the leaves of Rollinia leptopetala was obtained by hydrodistillation in Clevenger's apparatus and its chemical composition was analyzed by GC-MS. With this technique could be identified 22 constituents in a complex mixture of monoterpenes (54.5%) and sesquiterpenes (45.5%). The main component found in the leaves was the bicyclogermacrene (22.47%). The essential oil was assayed against a strain of Staphylococcus aureus possessing efflux mechanism of resistance to norfloxacin. Although the essential oil did not display relevant antibacterial activity in vitro, it modulated the activity of the norfloxacin, i.e. in combination with the antibiotic it was observed a fourfold reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration for norfloxacin, indicating inhibition of efflux pump.

The essential oils from leaves of four Cryptocarya spp endemic in the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest were obtained by hydrodistillation and shown by GC-MS analysis to contain mono and sesquiterpenes. The major components of the oil of Cryptocarya moschata were linalool (34.3%), a-terpinene (17.0%), g-terpinene (10.4%), 1,8-cineole (5.8%) and trans-ocimene (4.8%), whilst those of C. botelhensis were a-pinene (22.7%), b-pinene (9.2%), trans-verbenol (8.4%), trans-pinocarveol (5.5%) and myrtenal (5.4%). The principal compounds of C. mandioccana oil were b-caryophyllene (13.8%), spathulenol (10.2%), caryophyllene oxide (7.8%), d-cadinene (6.9%) and bicyclogermacrene (6.4%), whilst those of C. saligna were germacrene D (15.5%), bicyclogermacrene (13.8%), spathulenol (11.8%) and germacrene B (5.7%).

The volatile compounds of raw and extruded bovine rumen, extracted by dynamic headspace, were separated by gas chromatography and analyzed by GC-MS. Raw and extruded materials presented thirty-two volatile compounds. The following compounds were identified in raw bovine rumen: heptane, 1-heptene, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, toluene, hexanal, ethyl butyrate, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, heptanal, limonene, nonanal, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, pentadecane, hexadecane, heptadecane and octadecane. The following compounds were identified in the extruded material: 1-heptene, 2,4-dimethylhexane, toluene, limonene, undecane, tetradecane, pentadecane, hexadecane, heptadecane, octadecane and nonadecane. Mass spectra of some unidentified compounds indicated the presence of hydrocarbons with branched chains or cyclic structure.

Volatile compounds from green and roasted yerba mate were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and the flavor profile from yerba mate beverages was determined by descriptive quantitative analyses. The main compounds tentatively identified in green mate were linalool, alpha-terpineol and trans-linalool oxide and in roasted mate were (E,Z)-2,4-heptadienal isomers and 5-methylfurfural. Green mate infusion was qualified as having bitter taste and aroma as well as green grass aroma while roasted mate was defined as having a smooth, slightly burnt aroma. The relationship between the tentatively identified compounds and flavor must be determined by olfatometric analysis.

Entre as ervas aromáticas, o manjericão possui importância econômica no Brasil, sendo seu consumo tanto in natura quanto para processamento industrial, na obtenção de óleo essencial. Porém, as informações quanto à qualidade aromática dessas plantas em função das técnicas de cultivo são escassas. Avaliou-se a produtividade de duas espécies de manjericão, de folha estreita (Ocimum minimum L.) e de folha larga (Ocimum basilicum L.) em ambiente protegido. Os sistemas de cultivo utilizados foram: 1) hidroponia (floating); 2) substrato preparado e 3) substrato comercial. As amostragens foram realizadas durante o período de florescimento das plantas. O experimento foi realizado em Campinas (SP), em casa de vegetação com controle de umidade e iluminação naturais, utilizando-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições. Foram avaliados também o rendimento e composição química dos óleos essenciais das plantas. O sistema hidropônico apresentou a maior produtividade de massa verde, aproximadamente 44% superior aos outros dois tipos de cultivo, para ambas as espécies estudadas. Não houve diferença significativa entre as formas de cultivo quanto ao rendimento e composição química dos óleos essenciais dentro da mesma espécie. Quanto à produção de óleo essencial, as plantas de manjericão de folha estreita apresentaram rendimento aproximadamente 10% mais elevado em relação às de folha larga, além de diferenças significativas na composição dos óleos essenciais entre as espécies.

Among the aromatical herbs, basil is of great economic importance in Brazil. This species is used as fresh herb and also for essential oil extraction. To evaluate the productivity of basil in protected environment, two species, Ocimum minimum L. (narrow leaf basil) and Ocimum basilicum L. (wide leaf basil) were cultivated under greenhouse conditions, using a hydroponic system and two types of substrata. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with three repetitions. Samples were obtained during the flowering period. The yield and the chemical composition of the essential oils were evaluated. The highest yield of green mass from the two species, was obtained in the hydroponic system, with higher productivity (aprox. 44%) than the plants cultivated in prepared commercial substratum. Plants of Ocimum minimum L. produced more essential oil (aprox. 10%) than plants of Ocimum basilicum L. Significant differences were found in the chemical composition of essential oil between species. No differences were observed in the chemical composition of essential oil, comparing the three cultivation systems.

Ocimum selloi Benth, planta nativa do Brasil de uso medicinal, tem sido utilizada como antidiarréico, antiespasmódico e antiinflamatório. O rendimento dos óleos essenciais das inflorescências, contendo flores e sementes, foi de 0,6% e das folhas, coletadas em duas épocas do ano, foi de 0,25% (junho/00) e 0,20% (janeiro/01), respectivamente. Os óleos essenciais das inflorescências e folhas apresentaram como constituintes majoritários o trans-anethol (41,34%, 45,42%, 58,59%) e methyl chavicol (27,10%, 24,14%, 29,96%).

Ocimum selloi Benth, a native plant of Brazil, has medicinal uses as anti-diarrheic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory product. The yield of essential oils of the inflorescences, containing flowers and seeds, was 0.6%, and the yield of leaves, collected in two different seasons, was 0.25% (June 2000) and 0.20% (January 2001), respectively. The essential oils of the inflorescences and leaves presented as major constituents trans-anethol (41.34%, 45.42%, 58.59%) and methyl chavicol (27.10%, 24.14%, 29.96%).