Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oil from <i>Pimenta dioica</i> (L.) Merr. from Guatemala
Max Samuel Mérida-Reyes,
Manuel Alejandro Muñoz-Wug,
Bessie Evelyn Oliva-Hernández,
Isabel Cristina Gaitán-Fernández,
Daniel Luiz Reis Simas,
Antonio Jorge Ribeiro da Silva,
Juan Francisco Pérez-Sabino
Affiliations
Max Samuel Mérida-Reyes
Escuela de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, EdificioT-12, Ciudad Universitaria, zona 12, Guatemala City 01012, Guatemala
Manuel Alejandro Muñoz-Wug
Escuela de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, EdificioT-12, Ciudad Universitaria, zona 12, Guatemala City 01012, Guatemala
Bessie Evelyn Oliva-Hernández
Escuela de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, EdificioT-12, Ciudad Universitaria, zona 12, Guatemala City 01012, Guatemala
Isabel Cristina Gaitán-Fernández
Escuela de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, EdificioT-11, Ciudad Universitaria, zona 12, Guatemala City 01012, Guatemala
Daniel Luiz Reis Simas
Instituto de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Bloco H, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro CEP 21941-590, Brazil
Antonio Jorge Ribeiro da Silva
Instituto de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Bloco H, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro CEP 21941-590, Brazil
Juan Francisco Pérez-Sabino
Escuela de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, EdificioT-12, Ciudad Universitaria, zona 12, Guatemala City 01012, Guatemala
Background:Pimenta dioica is a native tree of Central America, Southern Mexico, and the Caribbean used in traditional medicine. It grows in wet forests in the Guatemalan departments of Petén and Izabal. Since the plant is not being economically exploited in Guatemala, this study was aimed at determining the composition of the essential oil of P. dioica leaves and fruits and the antibacterial activity of the leaves in order to evaluate its possible use in health products. The essential oils of fruits and leaves are used as rubefacient, anti-inflammatory, carminative, antioxidant, and antiflatulent in different countries. Methods: Fruits and leaves of P. dioica from Izabal Department were collected in April 2014 and extracted by hydrodistillation method. The oils were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results: Yields of 1.02 ± 0.11% for dried leaves and 1.51 ± 0.26% for fruits were obtained. Eugenol was the main component (65.9–71.4%). The leaf oil showed growth inhibition against two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusions: The authors consider that the tree’s leaves can be evaluated as a source of ingredients for antiseptic products, and that it is important to evaluate other types of properties such as anti-inflammatory activity.
