Abstract Green manure (GM) may reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, been an ecologically appropriate strategy to cultivation of medicinal plants. Crotalaria juncea, is one of the most used because it adapts to different climatic and high nitrogen content. Origanum vulgare. is widely used in cooking, pharmaceutical, cosmetic industries and food products. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the GM on biomass, essential oil (EO), phenolic and antioxidant. The experiment consisted: control; 150, 300, 450, and 600 g (Sh= leaves+steam) more 200 g roots (R); 600 g aerial part; 200 g roots; and soil with 300 g cattle manure per pot. The highest dry weights were observed in the presence of GM and cattle manure (90 days). The control had an EO production 75% lower in relation to the dose of 450 g GM (Sh+R). Principal component analysis showed that GM and cattle manure positively influenced the dry weight, content, yield, and EO constituents, and total flavonoids. The GM contributed to the accumulation of the major EO compounds (trans-sabinene hydrate, thymol, terpinen-4-ol). The GM management may be beneficial for cultivating, because it can increase the production of biomass and the active components, in addition to being an inexpensive resource. (GM fertilizers plants juncea content vulgare cooking pharmaceutical products EO, , (EO) antioxidant consisted 150 60 Sh= Sh (Sh leaves+steam leavessteam leaves steam 20 R (R) part 30 pot 90 (9 days. days . days) 75 45 Sh+R. ShR Sh+R (Sh+R) weight yield constituents flavonoids transsabinene trans sabinene hydrate thymol terpinen4ol. terpinen4ol terpinenol terpinen 4 ol terpinen-4-ol) cultivating components resource (EO 15 6 2 (R 3 9 ( 7 (Sh+R terpinen-4-ol 1

Abstract Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L., Asteraceae) is an important medicinal plant used worldwide for its medicinal properties such as the analgesic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth and production of photosynthetic pigments and of volatile constituents of Achillea millefolium L. under different irrigation depths. The treatments were the application of 55, 110, 220, 440 and 880 mm of water for a period of 110 days. Data were submitted to polynomial regression analysis at 5% probability, while the volatile constituents were analyzed by standard deviation. Different irrigation depths provided quadratic growth responses being the highest dry matter production at the depth of 440 mm. The contents of chlorophyll a, b, total and carotenoids were higher at the lower depth tested (55 mm). The major volatile compounds identified were sabinene, 1,8-cineol, borneol and β-caryophyllene. Increased water availability reduced the complexity of the volatile fraction of essential oil. Thus, it is recommended that the species be cultivated at 440 mm irrigation depth to have a higher production of dry matter and lower variation in the volatile profile of the essential oil.

ABSTRACT Piper hispidinervum C. DC. is popularly known as long-pepper and it owns a commercial value due to the essential oil it produces. Long-pepper oil is rich in safrole and eugenoln components that have insecticidal, fungicidal and bactericidal activity. It has been establish that to medicinal plants light influences not only growth but also essential oil production. The growth, the content of photosynthetic pigments and the essential oil production of Piper hispidinervum at greenhouses with different light conditions was evaluated. The treatments were characterized by cultivation of plants for 180 days under different light conditions, produced by shading greenhouses with 50% and 30% of natural incident irradiance, two colored shading nets red (RN) and blue (BN) both blocking 50% of the incident radiation and one treatment at full-sun (0% of shade). The results showed that the treatments of 50% shade and RN and BN were the ones which stimulated the greater growth. Blue and red light also had the best production of photosynthetic pigments. Essential oil yielded more under full sun therefore this is the most indicated condition to produce seedlings for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

Este estudo foi conduzido com objetivo de determinar o tipo de secagem e a fragmentação das folhas de capim-limão para otimizar o rendimento extrativo do óleo essencial. Foram estabelecidos 6 tratamentos com 2 tipos de secagem (estufa de ventilação forçada a 40ºC e sala com desumidificador) e 3 tamanhos de fragmentos das folhas secas (pulverização em moinho, fragmentos com 1 e com 20 cm de comprimento), com 4 repetições. O óleo essencial foi extraído por hidrodestilação durante 2 horas. O maior rendimento de óleo essencial foi obtido com o material seco na sala com desumidificador, não havendo diferenças significativas para os tamanhos da folha. O componente mais abundante no óleo essencial foi o citral que também apresentou as maiores concentrações nas folhas secas em desumidificador.

In this study the drying and fragmentation conditions of lemongrass leaves were determined, to increase the essential oil yield. Four replications of six treatments were studied with 2 drying methodologies (oven-drying at 40ºC and room temperature using moisture dryer) and 3 fragmentation sizes (powder obtained in mill, 1 cm and 20 cm fragments). The essential oil was extracted in Clevenger's modified apparatus during 2 hours. The higher essential oil yield and citral content was obtained with the leaves dried under room temperature using moisture dryer, with no significant differences in the fragmentation sizes.

Avaliou-se a produção do peso fresco da parte aérea de arnica e a concentração e rendimento de óleo essencial em arnica, em função da calagem e das adubações orgânica e mineral. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, em um Cambissolo álico. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pelo uso ou não de calagem (V=50%), três tipos de adubação (mineral, orgânica e mista, 50% de cada) e um tratamento adicional usando um Neossolo Litólico, proveniente de uma região endêmica da arnica. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em esquema fatorial 2x3+1, no delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado. Foram utilizadas seis repetições por tratamento, sendo uma planta por vaso com 2,6 L de solo. Após 150 dias de cultivo, determinaram-se a produção do peso fresco da parte aérea (PFPA), a concentração e o rendimento de óleo essencial no PFPA. A produção de PFPA decresceu na seguinte ordem: tratamento mineral > misto > orgânico, sendo influenciado pela calagem somente neste último. As maiores concentrações de óleo essencial foram encontradas nos tratamentos orgânicos, com e sem calagem, e misto sem calagem. O tratamento orgânico sem calagem apresentou o menor rendimento de óleo essencial, enquanto os maiores foram obtidos nos tratamentos mineral e misto sem calagem. Dentre todos os tratamentos, recomenda-se a adubação mista sem calagem, pois aliou alta concentração e alto rendimento de óleo essencial, igualando-se ao controle, ou seja, o mais próximo das condições naturais da arnica.

We evaluated the production aboveground fresh weight of arnica and essential oil content and yield in arnica, influenced by liming, mineral nutrition, and organic fertilization. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, using allic Cambisol. Three soil fertilization treatments (mineral, organic, and half mineral and half organic) were employed, with or without liming, and an additional treatment, with Litholic Neosol, coming from an area where arnica is endemic. These treatments were arranged in a 2x3+1 factorial scheme, in completely randomized design, with six replications, and one plant per pot (2.6 L of soil). After 150 days of cultivation the aboveground fresh weight (AFW) production, the content and yield of essential oil in AFW, were measured. The AFW decreased in this order: mineral > mixed > organic treatments, being only the last treatment influenced by liming. Higher essential oil contents were observed in organic treatments with and without liming, and mixed treatment without liming. The organic treatments presented smaller essential oil yields, while higher oil yields were measured in mineral and mixed treatments, without liming. Among all treatments, the best results were observed in the treatment using both organic and mineral fertilization without liming.

O guaco (Mikania glomerata Sprengel) é espécie de uso medicinal conhecida pela atividade broncodilatadora. Muitos estudos têm evidenciado mudanças nas características anatômicas e fisiológicas de plantas medicinais sob influência de condições de radiação. Neste trabalho analisou-se a influência de fotoperíodos (8; 12; 16 e 20 h) na anatomia foliar, nos teores de clorofila e condutância estomática em três regiões da planta. Após 90 dias de tratamento, plantas adultas e com diferentes tamanhos influenciados pelos fotoperíodos foram submetidas às avaliações anatômicas e fisiológicas. Os teores de clorofila foram maiores nos fotoperíodos de 8 e 12 h nas regiões superior e mediana da planta e menores no fotoperíodo de 8 h na região basal. A condutância e densidade estomática apresentaram relação inversa ao aumento do fotoperíodo, sendo significativamente decrescente do ápice para a base da planta. Houve aumento da espessura da epiderme adaxial nas regiões mediana e basal da planta até o fotoperíodo de 16 h. Nestas regiões houve aumento progressivo do parênquima esponjoso até o fotoperíodo de 20 h. Verificou-se modificações no tamanho e organização dos feixes vasculares influenciadas pelos fotoperíodos.

Guaco (Mikania glomerata Sprengel) is a medicinal species known because of its bronchi-dilating activity. Many studies have indicated changes in anatomical and physiological characteristics of medicinal plants when submitted to different conditions of light. The effect of photoperiods (8; 12; 16 and 20 h) on leaf anatomy, content of chlorophyll and stomatal conductance in distinct regions of guaco plants were analyzed. Adult plants of different sizes influenced by distinct photoperiods were submitted to anatomical and physiological analyses. 90 days after starting photoperiod treatments the chlorophyll content was higher in plants submitted to photoperiods of 8 and 12 hours in the superior and intermediary regions of plant, decreasing at 8 h of photoperiod treatment in the basal region of the plants. The conductance and stomatal density presented inverse relation to increase of photoperiod, decreasing from apical to basal regions of the plants. The thickness of the superior epidermis increased in the intermediary and basal regions of the plants submitted to a photoperiod up to 16 h. These regions presented a progressive increase of the lacunose parenchyma thickness under a photoperiod up to 20 h. The size and organization of the vascular bundles were influenced by the photoperiods.

Avaliou-se o efeito de concentrações de P e épocas de coleta sobre o crescimento, nutrição mineral e teor de óleo essencial da menta (Mentha piperita L.). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com parcelas subdivididas, em esquema fatorial 2x5, sendo 2 épocas de coleta (65 e 95 dias de cultivo (DC)) e 5 concentrações de P na solução nutritiva (6; 12; 18; 24 e 30 mg L-1), com 4 repetições. Foi determinada a massa seca de folhas (MSF), caules (MSC), raízes (MSR) e total (MST) e as relações folha:caule (F:C) e parte aérea:raiz (PA:R). Também, foi determinado o teor de óleo essencial em folhas frescas. Os níveis críticos foliares e acúmulo de nutrientes na parte aérea da menta foram estimados por meio da análise química das folhas e caules. As concentrações de P na solução influenciaram o crescimento e a produção de óleo essencial pela menta. Na coleta realizada aos 65 DC, apenas a MSF foi influenciada pelo P, não se observando efeito sobre os teores de óleo essencial. Aos 95 DC, o aumento da concentração de P promoveu aumentos significativos na massa seca das partes e do total da menta e, também, nos teores de óleo essencial, sendo o teor máximo (2,192 dag kg-1) obtido com 19,50 mg L-1 de P. As maiores concentrações de P avaliadas (24 e 30 mg L-1), promoveram aumentos na produção de matéria fresca e seca da parte aérea da menta, mas, reduziram os teores de óleo essencial, devido ao efeito de diluição, não significando, portanto, ganhos de produção de óleo por planta. Os teores foliares dos nutrientes associados ao teor máximo de óleo aos 95 DC foram em g kg-1: N=37,2; =3,9; K=21,2; Ca=9,3; Mg=3,8; S=3,0; e, em mg kg-1: B=35; Cu=8; Fe=323; Mn=145 e Zn=22. A exigência nutricional aos 95 DC relacionada ao teor máximo de óleo essencial seguiu a seqüência: N>K>Ca>P>Mg>S>Fe>Mn>B>Zn>Cu.

The effect of P concentrations and harvest period upon the growth, mineral nutrition and essential oil content of mint (Mentha piperita L.) was evaluated. The experimental design was of randomized blocks in a split-plot scheme, in a 2x5 factorial with four replications, being two harvest periods (65 and 95 days of cultivation (DC)) and five concentrations of P in the nutrient solution (6; 12; 18; 24 and 30 mg L-1) evaluated. The leaves dry weight (MSF), stems dry weight (MRS), roots dry weight (MSR), total dry weight (MST), leaf:stem ratio (F:C) and aerial part:root ratio (PA:R) were evaluated. The essential oil content in fresh leaves was determined. The critical levels and nutrient accumulation in leaves and stems were estimated through leaves and stems chemical analysis. The level of P increased the leaf dry matter production 65 DC. At 95 DC, the P concentration in the nutrient solution, did significantly increase plant growth and essential oil content, the maximum essential oil content being (2.192 dag kg-1) obtained with 19.48 mg L-1 of P. The higher P concentration in nutrient solution (24 and 30 mg L-1), increased the fresh and dry matter of the aerial portion of the plants, but, decreased the essential oil content. Due to the dilution effect, the increase of fresh and dry matter production did not result in an increase in the oil yield per plant. The critical levels of nutrients in the leaves corresponding to the maximum essential oil content at 95 DC in g kg-1 were: N=37,2; P=3,9; K=21,2; Ca=9,3; Mg=3,8; S=3,0 and, in mg kg-1: B=35; Cu=8; Fe=323; Mn=145 and Zn=22. The nutrients requested at 95 DC related to the maximum essential oil content was: N>K>Ca>P>Mg>S>Fe>Mn>B>Zn>Cu.

Foram cultivadas, em casa-de-vegetação, cinco plantas de Phyllanthus niruri L em vasos com volume de 3,4 dm³, tendo como substrato um Cambissolo Álico, com textura média, coletado no município de Nazareno - MG. As sementes de quebra-pedra foram oriundas de Belém - PA. Os tratamentos consistiram de cinco doses de N (0, 30, 60, 100 e 150 mg/dm³) e o uso ou não de calcário, sendo que nos tratamentos com calcário visava-se a elevação do pH para 6,0. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualisado com seis repetições. As plantas foram colhidas aos oitenta dias de ciclo, quando foi avaliado o peso da matéria seca da parte aérea e da raiz e efetuadas as análises químicas e fitoquímicas da parte aérea das plantas. O quebra-pedra é uma espécie responsiva à calagem e à adubação nitrogenada, apresentando na dose de nitrogênio de 77,81 mg/dm³ de solo o equivalente a 90% da produção máxima média (12,25 g/vaso) de matéria seca total, quando na presença de calagem. Na ausência de calagem a produção de matéria seca total decresce linearmente (de 3,9 g/vaso a 2,0 g/vaso) com o aumento das doses de N. O teor de P, S, Ca e Mg nas plantas foi maior nos tratamentos com calagem, independente das doses de N. Na ausência de calagem, o conteúdo dos macronutrientes na matéria seca total foi menor em conseqüência da menor produção de matéria seca total. na presença de calagem. Na presença de calagem, observou-se aumento na matéria seca da parte aérea e na concentração de alcalóides à medida que se aumentaram as doses de nitrogênio aplicadas. A máxima produção de alcalóides totais foi de 0,676 mg/g de matéria seca total da parte aérea, que corresponde à dose de N equivalente a 90% para máxima produção de matéria seca da parte aérea.

Five plants of Phyllanthus niruri L. were cultivated in a greenhouse in 3.4 dm³ pots with Alic Cambisol (medium texture) as substrate. Soil samples were collected in Nazareno - MG and seeds from 'quebra-pedra' were originated from Belém, Brazil. The treatments consisted of five concentrations of N (0,30,60,100 and 150 mg/dm³ of N), two levels of liming (with and without limestone, aiming at raising the pH to 6.0). The experimental design was completely randomized with 6 replications. Plants were harvested eighty days after transplanting. Root, stem and leaves dry matter production were evaluated and chemical and phytochemical analysis of stems and leaves were performed. 'Quebra-pedra' is a plant species responsive to liming and nitrogen fertilization showing, in the presence of liming, the equivalent to 90% of the maximum total dry matter yield (12.25 g/pot) for the nitrogen level of 77.81 mg/dm³ of soil. In the absence of liming the total dry matter decreased linearly (from 2.0 g/pot to 3.9 g/pot) with an increase in doses of N. Higher contents of P, S, Ca, and Mg were observed in plants from treatments with liming, independently of the doses of N used. In the absence of liming the content of macronutrients in the dry matter was small, as a consequence of a smaller production of dry matter. An increase in dry matter and total alkaloids was observed when the dose of nitrogen was increased. The maximum production of total alkaloids was of 0.676 mg of alkaloid per gram of stems and leaves dry matter that corresponds to the dose of N responsible for 90% of the maximum production dry matter.