Investigation of the effect of brassinosteroids on growth, carbohydrate content, in the profile of volatile constituents and in the antimicrobial activity of essential oil of Cymbopogon flexuosus (Poaceae)

Abstract

Applications of brassinosteroids increased levels of essential oils in some plant species. It is known that some essential oils have considerable antibacterial and antifungal activities and that infections caused by microorganisms are fairly frequent. Antimicrobial agents, including essential oils are used as pharmaceuticals and preservatives in the pharmaceutical industry. Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) Will. Watson is a species known as "erva cidreira" is widely used for medicinal purposes; essential oils accumulate in their leaves. The objectives of this project are: 1 - evaluate the effect of 24-epibrassinolid, a brassinosteroid, in the constitution of essential oils in the leaves of C. flexuosus, 2 - to determine the antimicrobial activity of essential oils before and after treatment with 24-epibrassinolid and 3 - to evaluate possible relationships between the hormone's effects on growth parameters, levels of carbohydrates from the leaves of the species and content of essential oils.(AU)