Chemical variability of the volatiles from the leaves of Eugenia protenta McVaugh (Myrtaceae) growing wild in the North of Brazil

Leaf volatiles of eight samples of individual plants of Eugenia protenta from three municipalities in the Northeastern Pará, Brazil, were obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and investigated by gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and gas/chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Dimethylxanthoxylin, selin-11-en-4α-ol, β-elemene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene and δ-cadinene were the principal constituents. The results of the oil compositions were processed by Hierarchical Component Analysis (HCA) allowing the establishment of three groups of essential oils differentiated by the content of dimethylxanthoxylin (Type A), selin-11-en-4α-ol/β-elemene (Type B) and germacrene D accomplished by bicyclogermacrene and δ-cadinene (Type C). Dimethylxanthoxylin is being cited for the first time in the genus Eugenia, however it was previously identified in other genera of the family Myrtaceae (Melaleuca and Austromyrtus). ► Leaf essential oils of eight individuals of Eugenia protenta were characterized. ► Hierarchical Chemical Analysis distinguished three types of the oils. ► Dimethylxanthoxylin, selin-11-en-4α-ol and germacrene D were the principal constituents. ► Dimethylxanthoxylin was encountered for the first time in Eugenia spp.