Variation in the essential oils composition in Brazilian populations of Schinus molle L. (Anacardiaceae)

Abstract

Schinus molle L. is popularly known as “peppertree” and presents high essential oil contents with a pleasant spicy scent. Its fruits are used in beverages or dried and ground as a substitute for pepper. Air-dried samples of 11 Brazilian populations of S. molle were extracted using steam distillation and analyzed using GC and GC–MS. A total of 22 volatile compounds were detected and identified. Four groups were formed by the Average Linkage cluster analysis. The first group was characterized by the compound sabinene; the second, which was the largest group, was characterized by the presence of α- and β-pinene; the third group comprised the samples corresponding to the São Borja population and was characterized by the high contents of α-cadinol; and the fourth group was characterized by the high concentrations of myrcene. ► Essential Oils from Schinus molle populations were analyzed using GC and GC–MS. ► We investigate the relationships among and within populations. ► Four groups were formed by the cluster analysis. ► The populations were grouped based in its chemical compounds.