Essential Oils from Leaves of Virola calophylla, Virola multinervia, and Virola pavonis (Myristicaceae): Chemical Composition and Larvicidal Activity against Aedes aegypti

Essential oils (EOs) from leaves ofVirola calophylla, Virola multinervia,andVirola pavonis(Myristicaceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation, analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and investigated for their larvicidal activity againstAedes aegyptilarvae. The major compounds identified in the EOs were beta-caryophyllene (54.8 % inV. calophyllaand 55.7 % inV. multinervia)and beta-selinene (60.5 % inV. pavonis).The EOs showed low larvicidal activity, LC50=179.6 mu g/mL for theV. calophyllaEO, followed by those of theV. pavonisLC(50)= 185.1 mu g/mL andV. multinerviaLC(50)= 200.5 mu g/mL. The beta-selinene-rich fraction (78.6 %) isolated fromV. pavonisEO showed no larvicidal activity (LC50> 350 mu g/ mL). These results represent the first report about the chemical composition and the larvicidal evaluation of the EOs from those AmazonianVirolaspecies.