Dry and wet seasons set the phytochemical profile of the Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. essential oils

Abstract

Dry and wet seasons present in different formations on the Cerrado domain are capable of promoting alterations in the composition of volatile compounds (terpenes) in the essential oil from copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffi Desf.). Different ecophysiological conditions of regions and climatic change could be important factors in modifying the chemical profile of terpenes and the yields from essential oil. Copaiba plants from semideciduous seasonal forests show differences into the phytochemical profile obtained in dry and wet seasons, with presence of monoterpenes alpha-thujene, o-cymene, (Z)-beta-ocimene, (E)-beta-ocimene, gamma-terpinene and terpinolene in point 1 (in the wet season), while Cerrado strictu sensu did not show significant differences in chemical composition of volatile compounds (only alpha-cadinol and seychellene showed significant differences). Nevertheless, sesquiterpenes trans-caryophyllene, gamma-cadinene, delta-cadinene, germacrene B and the oxygenated sesquiterpene caryophyllene oxide did not shown any significant differences in the essential oil composition among different points, independent of seasonality.

Keywords:

• terpenes
• Cerrado
• seasonality

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Foundation of Support of Research of the state of Sao Paulo (Fapesp) process no. 2010/15585-6, National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq) and Rectory of Research (PROPe) from UNESP.