Enrique I. Lucini

Aromatic plants of northwest Argentina. Constituents of the essential oils of aerial parts of seven Verbenaceae: Lantana and Aloysia.

Abstract The chemical composition of essential oil samples of the aerial parts of Lantana canescens, Lantana tilcarensis, Lantana trifolia, Aloysia citriodora, Aloysia gratissima, Aloysia castellanosii and Aloysia catamarcensis from northwest Argentina, phytogeographic areas of Yungas, Puna, Parque Chaqueño and Monte, have been analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main oil component group present in the oils of the aerial parts of Lantana species were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (> 24.8%). In contrast, the main compound group found in the oils of Aloysia species were oxygenated monoterpenes (> 19.6%). The comparison with previous studies performed by other authors points to a significant variation in the chemical composition of essential oil depending on the origin of the plants.

Essential Oils of Plants Used in Home Medicine in North of Argentina

Abstract Essential oils of the medicinal plants Satureja parvifolia, Satureja boliviana, Hyptis mutabilis, Leonorus sibiricus, Lippia turnerifolia, Xeroaloysia ovatifolia and Acantholippia salsoloides of north Argentina were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Seventy-five compounds, representing more than 90% of the oils, were identified. The oils of both populations of S. parvifolia studied were characterized by a high content of piperitone (41.9% and 46%) and piperitenone oxide (50.1% and 49.3%). The most abundant constituents identified in S. boliviana oil were isomenthone (33%) and pulegone (25.3%). Hyptis mutabilis oil was characterized by β-phellandrene (27.1%) and β-caryophyllene (59.4%). The main constituents of L. sibiricus oil were the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons β-caryophyllene (35.2%), α-humulene (22.1%) and α-cubebene (18.4%). The oils of L. turnerifolia and X. ovatifolia also had a high content of sesquiterpenes. These were α-humulene (40.1%) and β-bisabolene (22.9%) in the oil of L. turnerifolia and β-caryophyllene (14.4%), (E)-nerolidol (10.5%), spathulenol (21.6%) and epi-α-cadinol (21.9%) in the oil of X. ovatifolia. Acantholippia salsoloides oil from Jujuy accumulated high contents of p-cymene (52.8%) and thymol (46.8%), while the oil from the population of Catamarca accumulated α-thujone (98.8%) as the major compound.

Biotransformation of 1,8-cineole by solid-state fermentation of Eucalyptus waste from the essential oil industry using Pleurotus ostreatus and Favolus tenuiculus.

Biotechnological conversion of low-cost agro-industrial by-products, such as industrial waste or terpenes from the distillation of essential oils from plants into more valuable oxygenated derivatives, can be achieved by using microbial cells or enzymes. In Argentina, the essential oil industry produces several tons of waste each year that could be used as raw materials in the production of industrially relevant and value-added compounds. In this study, 1,8-cineole, one of the components remaining in the spent leaves of the Eucalyptus cinerea waste, was transformed by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using the two edible mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus and Favolus tenuiculus. As a result, two new oxygenated derivatives of 1,8-cineole were identified: 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo [2.2.2]octan-6-ol and 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo [2.2.2]octan-6-one. Additionally, changes in the relative percentages of other aroma compounds present in the substrate were observed during SSF. Both fungal strains have the ability to produce aroma compounds with potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Aromatic Plants of Yungas. Part II. Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of Phoebe porphyria (Griseb.) Mez. (Lauraceae)

Abstract The essential oil of Phoebe porphyria (Griseb.) Mez. (Lauraceae) collected from northwestern Argentina (Yungas area) was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty-five components were characterized, representing 87.0% of the total components detected. 1,8-Cineole (10.5%), β-caryophyllene (19.3%) and spathulenol (17.1%) were the major constituents of the oil, which was obtained in 0.15% yield.