ABSTRACT
The Lippia alba species consists of an aromatic plant used in Brazilian traditional medical practice and in the medical practice of several countries as well. Presenting a wide variability in its essential oil chemical composition, the Lippia alba is classified in chemotypes, or chemical races, according to the major constituents contained in its essential oil. Considering the quali and quantitative distribution of the components in the essential oil affect directly its pharmacological properties, which are presented in the medicinal species, this paper proposes a scientific literature review to correlate both biological and pharmacological properties presented by L. alba according to its chemical constitution.
Lippia alba es una planta aromaÌtica utilizada en la medicina tradicional de Brasil y de varios paiÌses. Con una gran variabilidad en la composicioÌn quiÌmica de su aceite esencial, se clasifica en quimiotipos, o razas quiÌmicas, de acuerdo con los constituyentes mayoritarios presentes en el aceite esencial. Dado que la distribucioÌn cualitativa y cuantitativa de los componentes del aceite esencial afecta directamente a las propiedades farmacoloÌgicas presentadas por la especie medicinal, este trabajo propone realizar una revisioÌn en la literatura cientiÌfica para correlacionar las propiedades bioloÌgicas y farmacoloÌgicas de los quimiotipos presentes en el aceite essencial de la L. alba.