Extração e Caracterização Química do Óleo de Sementes de Nim (azadirachta indica)

Abstract

The neem tree (Azadirachtina indica A. Juss) is known for its therapeutic, pesticidal, fer- tilizer and pharmacological properties, due to the abundance of organic compounds be- longing to several chemical classes with biological activities. Due to these attributes, the neem tree has great economic potential and continues to be used worldwide. In the present work, the extraction and chemical characterization of oil from neem seeds collected at the Federal University of Northern Tocantins (UFNT) campus Cimba, located in Araguaína, Tocantins, was carried out. For oil extraction, the Sohxlet system was used, for the ex- traction and characterization of volatiles, the HS-SPME-GC-MS method was used, and the fatty acid profile was characterized by GC-FID. The average yield obtained from the oil was 23% ± 0.07. A total of 34 volatile compounds were detected, of which 9 were identified by Kovats index: 2-methyldecane, 3-methyldecane, 4-methyldecane, 2-me- thylundecane, 3-methylundecane, 3,4-dimethylthiophene, 2,5- diol-3-hexane, 1,2,3-tri- methylbenzene and buticyclohexane. Compounds with antimicrobial, insecticidal and an- tifungal properties, such as: undecane, dodecane, phytol, toluene, 2-methyl-2-pentenal, 3,4-dimethylthiophene, (E)-propenylpropyltrisulfide and di-(1-propenyl )-trisulfide were also found. In addition to the oil volatiles, 7 fatty acids were found. The most abundant were: oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid, with the oil extracted from the seeds having the highest concentration of oleic acid and the commercial neem oil the highest concentration of linoleic acid. Some volatiles and fatty acids have had their bio- activities reported and they correspond with the known benefits of neem. Thus, these chemical constituents are considered part of the synergistic effect on the plant.