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 The purpose of this investigation was to determine the influence of colored shade nets on the growth, anatomy and essential oil content, yield and chemical composition of Pogostemon cablin. The plants were cultivated under full sunlight, black, blue and red nets. The harvesting was performed 5 months after planting and it was followed by the analysis of plant growth parameters, leaf anatomy, essential oil content, yield and chemical composition. The plants grown under red net have produced more leaf, shoot, total dry weight and leaf area. Plants cultivated under colored nets showed differences in morphological features. Plants maintained under red net had a higher leaf blade thickness and polar and equatorial diameter of the stomata ratio. Additionally, higher yield of essential oil in the leaves was observed under red and blue colored shade net. The essential oil of the plants grown under red net showed the highest relative percentage of patchoulol (66.84%). Therefore, it is possible using colored shade nets to manipulate P. cablin growth, as well as its essential oil production with several chemical compositions. The analyses of principal components allowed observing that pogostol has negative correlation with α-guaiene and α-bulnesene. There was difference in total dry weight and patchoulol content when the patchouli is cultured under the red colored shade nets.

As folhas de Mikania laevigata e Mikania glomerata são usadas no Brasil para tratar afecções respiratórias, sendo diterpernos caur ânicos e cumarina considerados os constituintes bioativos. O presente estudo relata a investigação dos perfis por CLAE-DAD e os teores de cumarina (1), ácidos trans-o-coumárico (2), caurenóico (3), benzoilgrandiflórico (4) e cinamoilgrandiflórico (5) em folhas secas de espécies de Mikania armazenadas em sala escura, sob condições controladas. Com exceção de 2, os constituintes foram isolados e purificados para serem empregados como subst âncias de referência. As amostras foram analisadas trimestralmente, até um período de 18 meses para M. laevigata e 12 meses para M. glomerata. Ácido trans-o-coumárico não foi detectado em ambas as espécies, enquanto 1 foi encontrado somente em M. laevigata. As concentrações dos constituintes quantificados não variaram significativamente no período avaliado (p < 0,05), para duas espécies. Por outro lado, alterações nos perfis cromatográficos e na pureza espectral dos picos relativos a 3, 4 e 5 foram detectadas em amostras de ambas as espécies de Mikania armazenadas por três meses, enquanto o perfil do pico correspondente a cumarina mostrou-se alterado em M. laevigata a partir do sexto mês de armazenamento. A análise dos perfis cromatográficos baseada na avaliação da pureza espectral dos picos selecionados mostrou-se uma ferramenta mais robusta para acessar a estabilidade química de amostras de Mikania submetidas a armazenamento do que a quantificação do teor dos marcadores químicos.

The leaves of Mikania laevigata and Mikania glomerata are used in Brazil to treat respiratory affections, being kaurane-type diterpenes and coumarin considered as the bioactive compounds. The present study reports an investigation on the HPLC-DAD profiles and contents of coumarin (1), trans-o-coumaric (2), kaurenoic (3), benzoylgrandifloric (4) and cinnamoylgrandifloric (5) acids in dried leaves of Mikania species stored in dark room under controlled conditions. Excepting 2, the constituents were isolated and purified to be employed as reference compounds. The samples were analyzed at three monthly intervals up to 18 months for M. laevigata and 12 months for M. glomerata. trans-o-Coumaric was not detected in both, whereas 1 occurred only in M. laevigata. The concentrations of the assayed constituents did not vary significantly within the evaluated period (p < 0.05), for both species. In contrast, changes in the chromatographic profiles and spectral purity of peaks from 3, 4 and 5 were detected in samples of both Mikania stored for three months, while the coumarin profile in M. laevigata modified after six months of storage. The evaluation of chromatographic profiles based on spectral purity analyses of selected peaks was shown to be a more robust tool to access chemical stability of Mikania samples than the quantitation of chemical markers' contents.

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.