Obtenção de óleo essencial de folhas frescas e secas de ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Miller) por hidrodestilação

Abstract

Very hear of plant diversity and its potential applications in areas such as health, cosmetics, cooking. This included those classified as weeds or “inços”, which are being researched scientifically by having high nutritional chemicals of interest to the various areas and functions. Among these is yet little known Pereskia aculeata, or popularly ora-pro-nobis. Its leaves, flowers and fruits, have aroused much interest for its high nutritional content, it being used in human food. New studies are coming with an interest in its essential oil, rich in compounds that have commercial potential. In order to know more about this plant and its essential oil, the essential oil extraction was performed by hydrodestillation, fresh and dried leaves, in order to evaluate the yield and chemical composition. The extraction had a yield of 0.83% for the fresh leaves and 0.5% for the dry leaves. The analysis of the oil was not effective, being the possible causes, the time that it was stored, inadequate transport and the waiting time for analysis, without proper refrigeration.