Essential Oils from Leaves of Virola calophylla, Virola multinervia, and Virola pavonis (Myristicaceae): Chemical Composition and Larvicidal Activity against Aedes aegypti

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) from leaves of Virola calophylla, Virola multinervia, and Virola pavonis (Myristicaceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation, analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and investigated for their larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti larvae. The major compounds identified in the EOs were β-caryophyllene (54.8 % in V. calophylla and 55.7 % in V. multinervia) and β-selinene (60.5 % in V. pavonis). The EOs showed low larvicidal activity, LC₅₀ =179.6 μg/mL for the V. calophylla EO, followed by those of the V. pavonis LC₅₀ = 185.1 μg/mL and V. multinervia LC₅₀ = 200.5 μg/mL. The β-selinene-rich fraction (78.6 %) isolated from V. pavonis EO showed no larvicidal activity (LC₅₀> 350 μg/ mL). These results represent the first report about the chemical composition and the larvicidal evaluation of the EOs from those Amazonian Virola species.

Key words:

• Aedes aegypti
• β-caryophyllene
• β-selinene
• bicyclogermacrene
• caryophyllene oxide