title: Chemical composition and pharmacological properties of the essential oils obtained seasonally from Lippia thymoides.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lippia thymoides Mart. & Schauer (Verbenaceae) is used in folk medicine to treat wounds, fever, bronchitis, rheumatism, headaches, and weakness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study determinates the chemical composition of essential oils from L. thymoides, obtained at during each of the four seasons and correlates with pharmacological properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging and β-carotene bleaching methods. The antimicrobial assays were performed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) methods. Isolated rat aorta and uterus, and guinea-pig trachea were utilized to evaluate relaxant potential in pre-contracted smooth muscle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Essential oils from leaves of L. thymoides had the sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene (17.22-26.27%) as the major constituent followed by borneol (4.45-7.36%), camphor (3.22-8.61%), camphene (2.64-5.66%), and germacrene D (4.72-6.18%). In vitro assays showed that these essential oils do not have antioxidant activity, have antimicrobial selectivity to Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.004 mg/mL and MMC = 0.26-10.19 mg/mL) and Micrococcus luteus (MIC = 0.03 mg/mL and MMC = 8.43 mg/mL), relax isolated rat aorta (EC50 = 305-544 μg/mL, with endothelium; and EC50 = 150-283 μg/mL, without endothelium), and uterus (EC50 = 74-257 μg/mL), and minor potency, isolated guinea-pig trachea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lippia thymoides is a source of natural products of pharmaceutical interest, being necessary additional studies to determine the substances involved in the biological activities.
authors: a Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Plantas Medicinais, Colegiado de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco , Petrolina , Pernambuco , Brazil .|b Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana , Feira de Santana , Bahia , Brazil .
authors: Fabrício Souza
authors: FS
authors: Silva
authors: a Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Plantas Medicinais, Colegiado de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco , Petrolina , Pernambuco , Brazil .
authors: Pedro Modesto Nascimento
authors: PM
authors: Menezes
authors: a Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Plantas Medicinais, Colegiado de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco , Petrolina , Pernambuco , Brazil .
authors: Pedro Guilherme Souza
authors: PG
authors: de Sá
authors: c Laboratório de Química de Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos Bioativos, Departamento de Ciências Exatas , Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana , Bahia , Brazil .
authors: André Luís de Santana
authors: AL
authors: Oliveira
authors: a Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Plantas Medicinais, Colegiado de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco , Petrolina , Pernambuco , Brazil .
authors: Eric Alencar Araújo
authors: EA
authors: Souza
authors: a Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Plantas Medicinais, Colegiado de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco , Petrolina , Pernambuco , Brazil .|d Programa de Pós-Graduação em Recursos Naturais do Semi-Árido, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina , Pernambuco , Brazil .
authors: Jackson Roberto Guedes da Silva
authors: JR
authors: Almeida
authors: a Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Plantas Medicinais, Colegiado de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco , Petrolina , Pernambuco , Brazil .|d Programa de Pós-Graduação em Recursos Naturais do Semi-Árido, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina , Pernambuco , Brazil .
authors: Julianeli Tolentino
authors: JT
authors: de Lima
authors: e Laboratório de Microbiologia da Agroindústria , Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz , Ilhéus, Bahia , Brazil , and.
authors: Ana Paula Trovatti
authors: AP
authors: Uetanabaro
authors: f Departamento de Ciências Biológicas , Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana , Feira de Santana , Bahia , Brazil.
authors: Tânia Regina dos Santos
authors: TR
authors: Silva
authors: c Laboratório de Química de Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos Bioativos, Departamento de Ciências Exatas , Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana , Bahia , Brazil .
authors: Edna Dória
authors: ED
authors: Peralta
authors: b Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana , Feira de Santana , Bahia , Brazil .|c Laboratório de Química de Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos Bioativos, Departamento de Ciências Exatas , Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana , Bahia , Brazil .
authors: Angélica Maria
authors: AM
authors: Lucchese
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D032411:Lippia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016982:Micrococcus luteus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012621:Seasons; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019207:beta Carotene; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
keywords: Antimicrobial activity; essential oils; sesquiterpenes; spasmolytic activity; tocolytic activity; vasorelaxation