COMPOSITION AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF PERUVIAN LANTANA CAMARA

The composition of the essential oil from Lantana camara L. (Verbenaccae) obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts was examined by GC, GC/MS, and C-13-NMR. The GC analysis showed that carvone is the most abundant monoterpene 75.9%, together with limonene 16.9%, accounting for 92.8% of the oil. The major components were also tested by C-13-NMR analysis of the essential oil. The L. camara oil was assayed against several microorganisms, showing moderate antibacterial activity against the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 200 mu g/ml). High antioxidant activity evaluated by the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay (TEAC) was found (29.0 mmol Trolox/kg) and relative low anti-inflammatory activity due to its weak ability for inhibiting lipoxygenase (IC50 = 81.5 mu g/ml).