Abstract

MORENO M., Shailili M.; CRESCENTE V., Oscar E.; ORTIZ M., Shelby  and  QUINTERO, Maribel. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND TOXIC ACTIVITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL FROM Simsia pubescens TRIANA. INCI [online]. 2006, vol.31, n.10, pp.745-747. ISSN 0378-1844.

From the leaves of Simsia pubescens Triana (Asteraceae) an essential oil was obtained by steam distillation. It is a yellow oil with an agreeable odor, and its toxic activity was determined by the brine shrimp Artemia salina Linn. assay. The essential oil had a LC₅₀ value of 0.12µg·ml^-1, which indicates cytotoxicity when compared to 13.45µg·ml^-1, obtained for vinblastine sulfate under identical conditions. GC/MS analysis showed that the oil is a mixture of six compounds, identified as 2-methylpentane (38.81%), cyclohexane (16.35%), d-germacrene (1.45%), hedycaryol (9.31%), a-eudesmol (1.23%) and b-eudesmol (9.66%).

Keywords : Aceite Esencial ; Artemia salina ; Asteraceae ; Simsia pubescens ; Terpenos .