Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia
Print version ISSN 0102-695X
SOUZA, Amanda de et al. Chemical composition and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of essential oils of Myrceugenia myrcioides(Cambess.) O. Berg and Eugenia riedelianaO. Berg, Myrtaceae. Rev. bras. farmacogn. [online]. 2010, vol.20, n.2, pp. 175-179. ISSN 0102-695X. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-695X2010000200007.
The chemical composition of volatile oils from two Myrtaceae species, Myrceugenia myrcioidesand Eugenia riedeliana, both native from the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest, was analyzed by GC-MS. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity was colorimetrically evaluated for these oils. For M. myrcioides, monoterpene hydrocarbons represented the major class in the volatile oil, with α-pinene as the most abundant component and a weak inhibitory activity was observed, whilst for E. riedeliana sesquiterpenes were found in higher amounts, being valerianol the major compound, and this oil presented a strong acetylcholinesterase inhibition.
Keywords : acetylcholinesterase; essential oil; Myrtaceae Myrceugenia myrcioides; Eugenia riedeliana.