Óleos essenciais na Amazônia: agregação de valor ao óleo essencial do estoraque (Ocimum micranthum)

Abstract

The species Ocimum micranthum (Lamíaceae) is known in the Amazon region mainly as estoraque. Probably of Asian origin, it occurs predominantly in the north and northeast regions of Brazil, and is popularly used to treat colds, fevers, stomach disorders, colic, as a diuretic, mouthwash, and as a larvicide, being also used in baths and religious rituals. The organic extract of the storax showed antifungal and anti-hemorrhagic properties. The essential oils from the different vegetative parts of the storax collected in other localities were previously studied, showing differences in their chemical composition. The ease of acquisition of the storax in the city of Belém, associated with its medicinal properties, the pleasant odor of its essential oil and the high yield of essential oil motivated the present study aiming to add value to it. The material studied was acquired at the Ver-o-Peso Fair and on the campus of the Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias do Pará (FCAP). The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation of the different vegetative parts of the fresh material and the material dried at room temperature, using a Clevenger type glass system. The chemical composition was obtained by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and aUXI1iode computer (GC-MS-DS), equipped with a DB5-MS fused silica capillary column, temperature program, 60oC-270oC(30C/min) and helium as carrier gas. The main chemical constituents of o. micrathum essential oil were: methyl (E)-cinnamate (dried inflorescences: 56.7%), limonene (fresh leaves: 10.4%), lingonol (fresh leaves: 10.1%) and ?-caryophyllene (dried branches: 8.6%). The dried plant presented higher oil yield that varied from 0.3% to 4.2%, depending on the part studied. The survey of the occurrence of storax in the state of Pará, carried out in the herbariums of MPEG and CPATU/Embrapa revealed the following collection sites: Tomé-Açú, Viseu, Ananindeua, Oriximiná, Maracanã, Santarém, Belterra and Barcarena. For the study of sexual propagation, seeds from a specimen grown at the FCAP campus were used, using 6 types of substrates. The substrate in which the plant showed the best development was that of black soil, with a germination rate of 80% and a height of 45 in 6 months after sowing. The seedlings kept in plastic bags, after about 4 months, were attacked by a type of aphid, which started to be controlled with the use of insecticide. The beginning of flowering occurred at the beginning of the fourth month after sowing.