CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF THE SPECIES Malva sylvestrisand Pelargonium graveolens: A REVIEW

Abstract

Certain medicinal plants have popular names similar to each other. Malva sylvestrisand Pelargonium graveolensare species by the same popular name “Malva”, and therefore commonly confused, in addition to being used for similar medicinal purposes. The objective of the work was to perform a literature review of the last ten years on the development of scientific knowledge of essential oils of M. sylvestrisand P. graveolens, with an important to identify the main chemical components and biological activities. The results describe the commercial production of these essential essentials, where P. graveolens, which is also popularly known as geranium or mallow has a strong therapeutic effect in its composition. As for chemical components, fatty acids: linolenic acid, linoleic acid and palmitic acid are major constituents of M. Sylvestrisoils. While P. graveolensis composed mainly of citronelol, geraniol, citronellate formate and menthol. The main activities reported were antimicrobial, antifungal, insecticide and antioxidant.

Keywords

• essencial oils
• malva sylvestris
• pelargonium graveolens