Previous researches showed that fatty acids analysis might be a useful tool to support the taxonomic investigation. In this approach the fatty acids content of ten Malvoideae species was analyzed and its chemotaxonomic significance has been investigated. The aerial parts of the species were collected in the Northeast of Brazil and their fatty acid methyl esters were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. The chemometric analysis consisted of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) with the euclidean distance between the samples given by the Ward.D2 algorithm. This is the first report of fatty acids from Wissadula peripocifolia, Herissantia crispa, Bakeridesia pickelii, Sidastrum micranthum, Pavonia cancellata and Pavonia malacophylla. The results showed the predominance of palmitic (C16:0), oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2) acids in the studied species. By the PCA and HCA analysis, the fatty acid composition was able to distinguish the species Herissantia crispa and Pavonia malacophylla. Our findings showed a chemotaxonomic proximity among species from different genera reflecting the taxonomic and phylogenetic closeness previously demonstrated by molecular investigations on Malvoidae species. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that the fatty acid analysis may be an interesting tool to support the taxonomic investigations on Malvoideae species.

Melissa officinalis L., Lamiaceae, is an herb with great growth prospects in the cosmetic industry due to its essential oil. In order to improve its production, it is necessary to study related agricultural practices. This study evaluated the effect of organic and mineral fertilization on the chemical composition of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) essential oil. The assay was conducted at the "Fazenda Experimental do Glória" of the Federal University of Uberlândia, and essential oil extraction and GC/MS analyses were completed by the Centre for Research and Development on Plant Genetic Resources of the Campinas Agronomic Institute. The assay was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The tested treatments were six types of fertilization (0, 1, 2, 4, 8 kg.m-2 of cattle manure and mineral fertilizing with 60 g.m-2 of NPK 4-14-8 + 4 g.m-2 of boric acid) with four replications. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation in a modified Clevenger apparatus. The chemical composition was analyzed by GC/MS. The essential oil presented the same compounds for all treatments; however, the relative proportion of some chemical constituents was altered according to the treatment. Neral, geranial, and citronellal were the major constituents.

O gengibre (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) pertence à família Zingiberacea. É uma especiaria de grande importância comercial. Neste trabalho realizou-se extrações da oleoresina de gengibre com etanol, isopropanol e dióxido de carbono líquido e comparou-se a composição química de cada um dos extratos. A oleoresina obtida tem componentes das classes dos monoterpenos e sesquiterpenos em todas as amostras. Ácidos carboxílicos foram encontrados nos extratos obtidos com solvente orgânico, quando o tempo de extração foi de 2 horas. Os componentes que dão a característica pungente à oleoresina, os gingerois, foram detectados nas amostras obtidas com solvente orgânico, quando o tempo de extração foi de 6 horas e, nas amostras obtidas com CO2 líquido, com 2 horas de extração.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) belongs to the Zingiberacea family. It is a spice of great commercial importance. In this work ginger oleoresin was obtained with ethanol, isopropanol and liquid carbon dioxide. The chemical compositions of the extract were compared with each other. All oleoresin samples had monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Carboxylic acids were found in organic solvent extracts for an extraction time of 2 hours. The component responsible the for pungent characteristic of the oleoresin, gingerois, were detected in samples obtained with organic solvent for extraction times of 6 hours and in samples obtained with CO2 liquid for extraction times of 2 hours.