Evaluación de la variación geográfica de la composición del aceite esencial de Ruta graveolens proveniente de los cantones de Cuenca y Morona

Abstract

Ruta graveolens, known as rue, is a plant of the Rutaceae family, native to Europe and introduced to America in the Middle Ages. Its essential oil is composed of terpenes and terpenoids such as: flavonoids, coumarins, furancomarins and mainly ketones. In addition, the essential oil of R. graveolens has been attributed several biological properties such as antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria species (Gram positive and Gram negative), as well as insecticidal and anticancer activity. In this work, the composition of Ruta graveolens’ essential oil obtained from different geographical areas, in the cantons of Cuenca and Morona, were evaluated. The analysis was performed using an optimized method for gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). In the optimization of the method, it was observed that a major area of chromatographic peaks was obtained at an injection temperature of 160 °C. However, a better resolution is obtained at 220 °C and, to cover the wide range of boiling temperatures of the possible components of the essential oil, subsequent analyzes were continued at this temperature. The main components of the essential oil of Ruta graveolens identified were 2-nonanone and 2-undecanone, both in the specimens from the Cuenca canton and those from the Morona canton. When comparing the general composition of the oils of the specimens from both cantons, a significant difference was observed attributed to the variations by the geographical area where the samples were collected.