Plantas aromáticas com potencial para produção de óleo essencial rico em alfa e beta tujona

Abstract

The market utilizes alpha and beta thujone compounds for their effectiveness against condylomas and papillomas caused by the papillomavirus. Traditionally, these compounds are extracted from the large, long-cycle perennial species Thuja occidentalis L., which is widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. However, due to growing demand and challenges in the production chain, such as extended cultivation times and the need for large planting areas, exploring new sources is crucial. This study aimed to identify aromatic plants, whether native or naturalized, that produce essential oils containing α-thujone and β-thujone for potential use in pharmaceutical formulations. The study was conducted in three stages. In the first stage, bioprospecting was employed to identify plants with essential oils rich in α-thujone and β-thujone. This involved collecting samples from various sources and conducting preliminary chemical analyses to detect the target compounds, leading to the selection of five promising species. In the second stage, the response of Hyptis marrubioides Epling was assessed at five base saturation levels (36%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80%) using a completely randomized experimental design. This stage aimed to understand how different soil conditions affect the growth and essential oil production of this species. The third stage examined the effects of two planting spacings (0.2x1.0m and 1.0x1.0m) and four harvest intervals (60, 90, 120, and 150 days after transplanting) on biomass production, oil content, and essential oil productivity. This was carried out in a randomized block design with a 2x4 factorial scheme to determine optimal cultivation practices. Chemical analyses of the essential oils, performed via gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, confirmed that H. marrubioides Epling, a native species with a shorter cycle, contains levels of the target compounds similar to those found in Thuja occidentalis L. Additionally, the growth of H. marrubioides Epling was not significantly affected by increases in base saturation levels, indicating its adaptation to the naturally acidic, nutrient-poor soils of the Cerrado. The results showed that planting spacing significantly impacted growth, with the smaller spacing (0.2x1.0m) yielding better averages for height, number of leaves, and biomass production. Cutting is recommended 150 days after transplanting to achieve greater plant height (144.83 cm), fresh matter (2301.01 g/m²), dry matter (684.14 g/m²), and essential oil productivity (3.92 g/m²). This study paves the way for exploring new raw material sources that could address current production challenges. Introducing H. marrubioides Epling as a viable alternative could meet industrial demand and support sustainable, economically viable cultivation practices.