Chemical composition, enantiomeric distribution and AChE-BChE activities of the essential oil of Myrteola phylicoides (Benth) Landrum from Ecuador

Abstract

The volatile constituents of the essential oil (EO) of Myrteola phylicoides (Benth) Landrum, from Ecuador, extracted by steam distillation have been analyzed. A total of 37 compounds, representing 90.30% the total essential oil sample were identified. Monoterpenes hydrocarbons (53.06%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (35.24%) were the principal groups of compounds. The major components were identified as α-pinene (30.94%), (E)-caryophyllene (21.93%), β-pinene (14.45%) and α-humulene (9.56%). The essential oil of M. phylicoides showed weak in vitro activity against AChE inhibition with IC50 value 60.8 μg/mL and a low BChE activity with IC50 value >250 μg/mL. This is the first report on the chemical composition of the essential oil of this species.