Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils from the Leaves and Flowers of Lippia stachyoides var. martiana (Verbenaceae)±

The chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves and flowers of Lippia stachyoides var. martiana (Verbenaceae) from the Brazilian Cerrado was analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. Fifty-seven and forty-one essential oil constituents were identified in the flowers and leaves, respectively, being thirty-eight substances found in both oils. Flowers and leaves essential oils were rich in (E)-nerolidol (15.6 and 16.4%), δ-cadinene (15.8 and 18.5%), spathulenol (8.1 and 16.4%), caryophyllene oxide (6.6 and 7.8%) and cubebol (8.5 and 7.4%), respectively. Both essential oils also showed promising results against yeast-like fungi and bacteria. Good antifungal activity was observed for Cryptococcus neoformans, with MIC’s of 156 μg/ml and 78 μg/ml for flowers and leaves oils, respectively.