José C. S. de Oliveira, Claudio A. G. da Camara,* and Manfred O. E. Schwartz

Abstract: Essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from stem and leaves of Cordia globosa (Jacq.) Hmb., Bonpl. et Kunth and Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. et Schult. were analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. The oil yield of C. globosa and C. curassavica was 0.5% and 1.1% for the stem and 0.6% and 1.0% for the leaves, respectively. Although they belong to the same genus, the chemical composition of the oils from two Cordia species was very different. The main components in the oil of C. globosa were: 1-endo-bourbonanol (20.2% in stem) and linalyl butyrate (14.7% in stem); β-caryophyllene (39.0% in leaves) and α-humulene (12.1% in leaves). Spathulenol (27.1% in stem), trans-sesquisabinene hydrate (11.0% in stem), viridiflorol (10.7% in stem), β-phellandrene (25.3% in leaves), cubebol (23.9% in leaves) and α-pinene (10.4 % in leaves) were the main constituents of the oils of C. curassavica.

The bioma Caatinga, inserted in the domain of the semi-arid region of the state of Pernambuco, represents an important biodiversity centre of America (1). Of the different vegetation formations of this bioma, the forests located on the mountain are without any doubt the ones with the major forest richness (2–3). These forests of Pernambuco can always be found on the top and backs of some mountains with altitudes exceeding 600 m, located on the surface of Borborema, and despite of being geographically in the center of the Caatinga, show vegetation with distinct physiognomies and flora denominated as mountain forest or “brejos de altitude”.