Zanthoxylum artkulatum engler (Rutaceae) essential oil: Chemical composition and larvicidal activity

The leaves of Zanthoxylum articulatum Engler (Rutaceae), collected in Jacobina-Bahia, Northwest of Brazil, was subjected to hydrodistillation and its essential oil was characterized by GC/MS. Twelve compounds were identified representing 90.4% of the oil. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (65.4%) were the major constituents with viridiflorol (35.4%), spathulenol (9.9%), elemol (9.7%) and globulol (6.5%) being the main compounds. The oil was examined with respect to its larvicidal properties against the larvae of a mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and showed LC50 77.62 +/- 0.64 ppm.