Content and composition of the essential oil of Artemisia annua in two harvest times

Abstract

Artemisia annua is traditionally used in the treatment for malaria due to presence of the active principle artemisinin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the essential oil content and chemical composition of A. annua submitted to four doses of mineral fertilization in two harvest times. The seedlings of A. annua were cultivated in 10 L pots kept in a greenhouse. The tested doses of mineral fertilization were the following: without fertilization (D0), 50% of the recommended dose (D1), recommended dose (D2), and 150% of the recommended dose (D3). The samples for extracting the essential oils were collected at 60 and 125 days after transplantation (DAT). The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Identification and relative percentage of the compounds of the essential oil were performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The highest essential oil content obtained was 0.81% using the dose D0 at 60 DAT. The increase of the dose of mineral fertilization indicated a disadvantage with the reduction of the essential oil content in the two harvesting times. The major constituents found in the essential oil were camphor and borneol. The results indicate that A. annua could be an alternative source of borneol and camphor, active component with use in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.