Evaluation of the chemical composition of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf growing in environments with different pollution levels and the influence on tea composition/Avaliacao da composicao quimica de Cymbopogon citratus Stapf cultivado em ambientes com diferentes niveis de poluicao e a influencia na composicao do cha

Cymbopogon citratus Stapf, popularly known as lemongrass, is an Indian species. It possibly arrived in Brazil during colonial times, where it was used as an ornamental plant, and is found growing throughout the country. There are several popular uses for this plant, including as treatment for stomach pains, diarrhea and cellulite. This plant grows in polluted and unpolluted environments such as roadsides, which can lead to changes in its chemical aspects, and consequently changes in its manufacturing products. This study examined whether there were changes in the chemical composition of plants grown in the presence or absence of environmental stress (urban pollution). The following compounds were studied, using thin layer chromatography: saponins, iridoids and proanthocyanidins, mono- and sesquiterpenes, triterpenes and steroids, flavonoids, polyphenols and alkaloids. It was concluded that this factor may have contributed to changes in the chemical composition of its leaves, reducing the synthesis of more polar compounds and promoting synthesis of possible leucoanthocyanidins for possible protection. This can lead to changes in the pharmacological and toxicological properties of tea. Key words: Cymbopogon citratus, stress, chemical composition, tea. Cymbopogon citratus Stapf, o popular capim-santo, e especie originaria da India, que chegou ao Brasil, possivelmente, no tempo colonial, e era utilizada como planta ornamental, sendo encontrada cultivada em todo o pais. Diversos sao os usos populares para essa planta, desde tratamento de dores estomacais, intestinais, antidiarreico, ate anticelulite e estetica de cabelos oleosos. Essa planta se desenvolve em ambientes insalubres como beira de estrada, e isso pode levar a mudancas no seu aspecto quimico e, em consequencia disso, mudancas em seus derivados. Este trabalho analisou se ocorreu variacao da composicao quimica da planta cultivada na presenca ou ausencia de estresse ambiental (poluicao urbana). Foram pesquisados por meio de cromatografia de camada delgada os seguintes compostos: saponinas, iridoides e proantocianidinas, mono e sesquiterpenos, triterpenos e esteroides, luteolina, polifenois e alcaloides. Concluiu-se que este fator pode ter contribuido para modificacao da composicao quimica de suas folhas, reduzindo a sintese de compostos mais polares e favorecendo a sintese de possiveis leucoantocianidinas para provavel protecao. Isso podera acarretar ao cha alteracoes em sua propriedade farmacologica e