Biotechnological potential of essential oils from different chemotypes of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. ex Britton & P. Wilson

This study reports the biotechnological importance of seven Lippia albaspecimens collected in different places in Brazil, and evaluation of some activities as larvicidal against Aedesspp., antifungal against dermatophytes; cytotoxicity against SNB-19 (astrocytoma), HCT-116 (human colon) and PC-3 (human prostate) cancer cell lines, and inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE).The essential oils, whose extraction yield was about 1.24 w/w ± 0.9%, showed differences in their chemical composition and considered as chemotypes. The essential oils containing neral and geranial as main constituents showed better action against HCT-116 cell lines (IC50 value was 9.22 μg/mL), larvicidal activity against arbovirus vectors (LC50 value against A. aegyptiwas 1.59 μg/mL) and inhibition of AChE (halo inhibition zone was 1 cm). The essential oils containing mainly monoterpenoids showed better antifungal action with MIC values range from 0.15 to 1.25 mg/mL. This chemical and biological characterization may be useful for biotechnological applications.