Abstract

Phytochemistry Of Piper Hispidinervum Cultivated Under The Edafoclimatic Conditions Of Lavras, MG, Brazil

Author(s): Flavio Araujo Pimentel, Maria das Gracas Cardoso, Ana Paula S.P.Salgado, Vanisse de F.Silva, Lidiany M.Zarcaroni, Augusto Ramalho de Morais, David Lee Nelson

An essential oil with a high safrole content produced by piper hispidinervum is among the secondary metabolites of economic importance and commercial interest. The present study evaluated the influence of time of harvest and the steam distillation process on the quantity and quality of this oil. Fresh leaves were collected at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The material was dried in a forced-air oven at 30°C for a period of six days and submitted to steam distillation for periods of 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours. Gas chromatographic analysis demonstrated that the collection should be performed at the times of 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., with a preference for the morning period, but this parameter did not have a significant influence on the major component (safrole). The steam distillation should be performed during a one to two-hour period, depending on the requirements of the consumer market with respect to the safrole content of the oil. These preliminary tests should be performed to determine the operational procedure for the industrial scale extraction.