Biomass production, essential oil’s yield and composition of three genotypes of Mikania laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Baker

Abstract

Mikania laevigata leaves are used worldwide as herbal medicines. Our study investigates the production differences among three different genotypes of this herb: the genotypes' influence on the essential oil yield, chemical composition, and the plant tissues involved in the secretion of the chemical compounds produced by the leaves. The study performed the analysis during the summer and winter seasons. Plants were grown under an organic cultivation system in Oratórios, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometer. The analysis highlighted substantial genetic variability among the genotypes. The genotype CENARGEN showed higher biomass production, oil yield, and a high concentration of major constituents detected by chromatographic analysis in essential oils, such as germacrene D and caryophyllene oxide. The season affected the chemical composition of the essential oils. Germacrene D and bicyclogermacrene were the major constituents in the winter-essential-oils; spatulenol and caryophyllene oxide were the major constituents in the summer-essential-oils.