Oils Variability of Pectis elongata in the Amazon and an Overview of the Neotropical Pectis Species

Aims: Pectis species, belonging to Asteraceae, are aromatic and medicinal herbaceous plants, distributed in the Americas, the West Indies, and the Pacific islands, with lemon, cumin, or oregano aroma, used in infusions to treat several diseases or as spices.

Methodology: In this study, the composition of Pectis elongata from the Amazon was correlated with other Neotropical Pectis oils, including their traditional uses and biological properties. Pectis elongata oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS.

Results: Citral (39.1% of neral and 47.7% of geranial), perilla aldehyde (51.7% to 81.8%), and limonene (33.7% to 43.7%) were identified as their primary constituents of the Pectis elongata oils from the Amazon. It is assumed the existence of at least two chemotypes for the variability of the oils of P. elongata: Citral (neral plus geranial) and perilla aldehyde plus limonene. The main C10-skeletal monoterpenes found in Pectis oils can be depicted according to their biosynthetic pathways: neral and geranial arranged in an acyclic-type skeleton, and limonene, perilla aldehyde, cumin aldehyde, carvone, p-cymene, and thymol in a p-menthane-type skeleton.

Conclusion: There is a particular interest in the world's citral-rich essential oils, such as Pectis elongata oil and other similar Pectis oils, given their application in human health and food preservation.