Volatile Compounds of Baccharis punctulata, Baccharis dracunculifolia and Eupatorium laevigatum obtained using Solid Phase Microextraction and Hydrodistillation

In this work the qualitative chromatographic profiles of the volatile oil obtained with fresh chopped leaves of Baccharis punctulata, Baccharis dracunculifolia and Eupatorium laevigatum, using HS-SPME were compared with their hydrodistilled oils. Several Brazilian native plant species have not yet been studied regarding their volatile compounds composition. Conventional techniques employed for the investigation of volatile compounds, such as hydrodistillation, may impart chemical changes to the original oil composition. The use of HS-SPME provides alternative milder extraction conditions, preventing chemical transformations and supplying complementary information about volatiles composition. Coumarin and coumaran were detected by the first time among volatile components of E. laevigatum leaves after mechanical damage, only when using HS-SPME. Differences and similarities perceived between volatile compounds profiles using both extraction techniques are discussed, showing that they are complementary and may bring insight about fresh leaf volatiles playing infochemical roles and about chemical transformations caused by hydrodistillation.