Essential oil of Aloysia virgata var. platyphylla (Briquet) Moldenke from Corrientes (Argentina)

The qualitative and quantitative composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of Aloysia virgata var. plathyphylla (Verbenaceae) has been investigated for the first time. This species grows naturally in northeast Argentina, where is employed in folk medicine. The essential oils were obtained by steam distillation of leaves and young stems at different stages and analyzed by GC‐MS. The oil composition showed quantitative variation during the period of sampling (spring–summer–autumn): sabinene, 1.8–2.4%; δ‐elemene, 4.6–8.4%; β‐caryophyllene, 16.3–18.1%; germacrene D, 16.0–27.1%; and bicyclogermacrene, 17.6–29.3%. The characterization of Aloysia virgata var. plathyphylla by enantioselective gas chromatography was performed by evaluation of the enantiomeric ratio of sabinene and germacrene D. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.