Characterization of the volatile fraction of Brazilian essential oil, namely Cordia verbenaceae

Importance of the topic

Essential oils are valued in cosmetics, food and medicine for their flavor, preservation and bioactive properties. Among these, Cordia verbenaceae L., a Brazilian medicinal shrub in the Boraginaceae family, is recognized for anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and analgesic effects associated with its leaf essential oil.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study aimed to comprehensively profile the volatile constituents of C. verbenaceae leaf essential oil using GC–MS combined with linear retention index (LRI) filtering. By applying stringent mass spectral and LRI criteria, it sought to achieve rapid and reliable identification of aroma-active compounds.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The essential oil was obtained via hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus and diluted in hexane. LRI calibration employed a C7–C30 n-alkane series. Analyses were performed on a Shimadzu GC–MS system (GC-2010 coupled to QP2010 Ultra) equipped with a SLB-5ms column (30 m × 0.25 mm ID × 0.25 μm film). The oven temperature ramped from 50 °C to 280 °C at 3 °C/min, helium carrier gas at 30 cm/s, split injection (1:50). Mass spectra were acquired in EI mode over 45–360 m/z. Compound identification used the FFNSC library with filters ≥ 90% spectral match and ± 5 LRI units.

Main Results and Discussion

A total of 48 volatile compounds were identified, spanning monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Major constituents included α-pinene (35%), α-santalene (15%), trans-9-epi-caryophyllene (13%) and δ-cadinene (4%). Minor components (2–4%) comprised calarene, α-thujene, eucalyptol, caryophyllene oxide and α-humulene. The combined spectral and LRI filtering significantly reduced false positives and candidate lists per peak, ensuring reliable assignments. Seasonal variation accounted for some discrepancies with literature data.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• The dual-filter approach enhances speed and confidence in peak identification, critical for quality control.
• The detailed volatile profile supports standardization of C. verbenaceae oil in phytotherapy, cosmetics and food industries.
• Results enrich flavor and fragrance databases, facilitating chemotaxonomic studies and authenticity verification.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advances may include on-line SPME–GC–MS and machine-learning algorithms for automated pattern recognition. Continuous expansion of spectral libraries through isolation and characterization of novel constituents will improve detection of trace components. Integrating metabolomic and bioactivity profiling can drive development of new therapeutic and functional food applications.

Conclusion

This work establishes a robust GC–MS method combining mass spectral similarity and LRI filtering for rapid, accurate characterization of C. verbenaceae leaf essential oil. The protocol strengthens analytical reliability and underpins quality assessment of botanical extracts.

Reference

1. Matias E.; Santos K.K.; Costa J.G.M.; Coutinho H.D. Asian Biomed. 4 (2010) 183–186.
2. Matias E.F.F.; Santos K.K.; Almeida T.S.; Costa J.G.M.; Coutinho H.D.M. Rev. Bras. Biocienc. 8 (2010) 294–298.
3. Matias E.; Santos K.K.; Falcão-Silva V.S.; Siqueira-Júnior J.P.; Costa J.G.; Coutinho H.D. Indian J. Med. Res. 137 (2013) 178–182.
4. Matias E.F.F.; Alves E.F.; Santos B.S.; Sobral-Souza C.E.; Ferreira J.V.A.; Lavor A.K.S.; Figueredo F.G.; Lima L.F.; Santos F.A.V.; Peixoto F.S.N.; Colares A.V.; Boligon A.A.; Aquino R.S.; Athayde M.L.; Rocha J.B.; Menezes I.R.A.; Coutinho H.D.M.; Costa J.G.M. Alternat. Med. (2013) Article ID 164215.
5. Lameira O.A.; Pinto J.E.B.P.; Arrigoni-Blank M.d.F.; Cardoso M.d.G. Cienc. Rural 27 (1997) 189–192.
6. Medeiros R.; Passos G.; Vitor C.; Koepp J.; Mazzuco T.; Pianowski L.; Campos M.; Calixto J. Br. J. Pharmacol. 151 (2007) 618–627.
7. Matias E.F.F.; Alves E.F.; Silva M.K.N.; Carvalho V.R.A.; Coutinho H.D.M.; Costa J.G.M. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia 25 (2015) 542–552.
8. Passos G.F.; Fernandes E.S.; Cunha F.M.; Ferreira J.; Pianowski L.F.; Campos M.M.; Calixto J.B. J. Ethnopharmacol. 110 (2007) 323–333.
9. d’Acampora Zellner B.; Bicchi C.; Dugo P.; Rubiolo P.; Dugo G.; Mondello L. Flav. Fragr. J. 23 (2008) 297–314.
10. Matias E.F.F.; Alves E.F.; Silva M.K.N.; Carvalho V.R.A.; Figueredo F.G.; Ferreira J.V.A.; Coutinho H.D.M.; Silva J.M.F.L.; Ribeiro-Filhoa J.; Costa J.G.M. Ind. Crops Prod. 87 (2016) 45–53.
11. Rodrigues F.F.G.; Oliveira L.G.S.; Saraiva M.E.; Almeida S.C.X.; Cabral M.E.S.; Campos A.R.; Costa J.G.M. Pharmacogn. Res. 4 (2012) 161–165.