Essential Oil Composition of Two Chemotypes of<i>Lippia alba</i>Grown in Northeast Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT Essential oils of six types of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown, an aromatic shrub used in folk medicine in northeastern Brazil under the name “cidreira” were analyzed by GC/MS. The results showed neral (27.18–30.40%) and geranial (35.63–40.95%) as the main chemical constituent in three samples, while carvone (42.30–54.69%) was the main constituent in three other samples. These differences allowed for the classification of two chemotypes.