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Abstract
Vernonia brasiliana (L) Druce is a plant from the Asteraceae family. The essential oils obtained by hydro distillation from flowers and roots of V. brasiliana were analyzed by GC and GC-MS for the first time. The major components found in the flowers were (E)-hex-2-enal (4.04 %), hexan-1-ol (4.23 %), (Z)-hex-2-en-1-ol (6.32 %), palmitic acid (8.30 %), and hexacosane (4.91 %). The roots presented as major components modheph-2-ene (8.69% ), α-isocomene (15.41 %), α-gurjunene (9.61 %), β-isocomene (10.26 %) and trans-caryophyllene (10.42 %), α-humulene (5.36 %), and palmitic acid (5.25 %). Leaves essential oil presented as major components trans-caryophyllene (8.73 %), bicyclogermacrene (5.78 %), germacrene-D (10.19 %), and caryophyllene oxide (4.51 %). The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from leaves, flower and roots of V. brasiliana was evaluated against the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), using the broth micro dilution method, and the assays have showed no positive results. However, the three essential oils showed antiprotozoal activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis, and did not display cytotoxicity against Vero (ATCC CCL 81) and RAW 264.7 (ATCC TIB 71) cell lines. Up to date, no studies have been carried out on the antitrypanosomal, antileishmanial and cytotoxic activities of the essential oils from leaves, flowers and roots of this plant.