Chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils of Piper species from the Amazon

The genus Piper, belonging to the family Piperaceae, includes approximately 2000 species of plants. Many of them are producers of essential oils. Species of this genus are popularly used for the treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and osteoporosis. In the Amazon, they are used to treat infections caused by parasites. This work describes information from the most recent articles on the chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils of Piper species collected in the Amazon, guiding researchers for future studies. The essential oils derived from Amazonian Piper species have major components that have demonstrated larvicidal activity, such as dillapiole, and others that may have antioxidant and anticholinesterase properties, such as γ-terpinene, p-cymene and α-terpinene.