Investigation of treatment with 24-epibrassinolide in plant development, profile of volatile constituents and biological activities of essential oils from Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon flexuosus and Mentha pulegium

Abstract

Some essential oils have antibacterial and antifungal activities and antiproliferative effect against human cancer cell lines. Antimicrobial agents, including essential oils, are used as drugs and as preservatives in pharmaceutical and food industry. Essential oils have important applications in agriculture and in clinical and preventive dentistry. Brassinosteroids increased the levels of carbohydrates and essential oils in some plant species. Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon flexuosus, popularly known as lemon balm and Mentha pulegium, popularly known as pennyroyal are species widely used for medical purposes in Brazil. The objectives of this project are: 1 - to evaluate the relationship between the effects of hormone on growth parameters, levels of carbohydrates from leaves of three species and content of essential oils, 2- to evaluate the effect of 24-epibrassinolide on the constitution of essential oils of leaves of the three species, 2 - to determine the antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of the essential oils obtained from plants with and without treatment with 24-epibrassinolide. (AU)