Chemical Diversity and Insecticidal and Anti-tick Properties of Essential Oils of Plants from Northeast Brazil

Abstract

The essential oils of aromatic plants of Northeast Brazil have great chemical diversity both between and within species. This diversity reflects on the different biological activities of metabolites. The species covered in this chapter, Lippia gracilis, Lippia sidoides, Lippia alba, Myrcia lundiana, Myrcia ovata, Varronia curassavica, Eplingiella fruticosa, Hyptis pectinata, and Croton tetradenius, make up a small sample of the vast plant biodiversity of that region, especially in the Caatinga biome. The Federal University of Sergipe preserves most of these species in the Active Germplasm Bank of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of UFS, where countless studies are developed. Faced with the need for developing new active principles to be used in agriculture as alternatives to synthetic chemicals, essential oils stand out for their low persistence in the environment and low toxicity to non-target organisms and humans. The potential of use of these species is due to their diverse biological activities. They are also a good example of native plants that can be commercially made available in formulations and products for the management of insect-pest and bovine tick once the appropriate investments for research and technological development are granted.