Viscosity of the oil-resins and chemical composition of the essential oils from oils-resins of Copaifera multijuga Hayne growing in the National Forest Saracá-Taquera Brazil

Abstract

Copaifera multijuga Hayne, Fabaceae, is a tree species Amazonian known as “mari mari” or “copaíba roxa”. Its oil-resins are popularly used for various medicinal purposes, especially as anti-inflammatory. The aims of this study were: determine the viscosity of the oil-resins and analyze the chemical composition of the essential oils from oils-resins of eleven specimens of C. multijuga. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger type apparatus and analyzed by GC/MS. The viscosity ranges from 9.46 to 92.62 mPa.s. for 11 samples of oil-resin. The compounds found in all samples were: β-caryophyllene (36.20 to 85.4%), α-humulene (4.15 to 11.26 %), δ-elemene (0.08 to 8.52 %), β-elemene (0.68 to 2.86 %), and ciprene (0.22 to 1.11 %). The compound trans-4-muurola (1,4), 5-diene was found only in higher amounts in samples 2, 6 and 7, ranging from 14.36 to 36.96 %. It was found that the higher levels of the viscosity are associated with lower contents of the β-caryophyllene. The β-caryophyllene was the major compound found in all samples, thus it can be used as the chemical marker of essential oil these specimens.