Perfil comparativo de substâncias voláteis da espécie Piper tuberculatum Jacq

Abstract

The genus Piper, from the Piperaceae family, is notable for its economic importance and the diversity of its species, which are used in medicine, agroindustry, and cuisine. The species Piper tuberculatum Jacq. is known for its various secondary metabolites with significant biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antitumor properties, as well as playing a role in plant defense. This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the chemical profile of the essential oils of P. tuberculatum, focusing on the presence of herbivory signals, given that distinct substances were observed in the species associated with or without herbivory signs. The plant leaves were subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus, and the essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oil yield was 0.027%, with (E)-Caryophyllene (42.10%) and Caryophyllene Oxide (12.7%) being the main components. In addition to these identified compounds, totaling 26 substances, 7 uncharacterized chemical substances were detected, indicating the need for further investigation. Techniques for fractionation and purification are recommended to explore these substances and discover potentially bioactive new compounds, as well as comparing with other analytical techniques. The results contribute to the understanding of the chemical profile of P. tuberculatum and suggest directions for future research, which may reveal new properties and applications of the identified compounds.