Use of spinning band distillation equipment for fractionation of volatile compounds of Copaifera oleoresins for developing a validated gas chromatographic method and evaluating antimicrobial activity.

Copaifera is a tree that produces an oleoresin that has great historical and economic importance. These oleoresins display several pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, among others. The commercialization of Copaifera oleoresin occurs, in many cases, without any quality control, which facilitates its adulteration. Validated analytical methods can provide a safe quality control. In this work, the 800 Automatic Spinning Band Distillation equipment was used to perform the fractionation of the volatile oils obtained by hydrodistillation of Copaifera multijuga, C. paupera, C. Publifora and C. langsdorffii, aiming to isolate and purify the major compounds present in these oils. For purification, classical column chromatography was used, furnishing six isolated sesquiterpenes. The sesquiterpenes were used as standards in the development and validation of the method by GC-FID. The evaluated parameters were selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy and robustness and they are all in accordance with ANVISA and International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The developed method is reliable for the quantification of sesquiterpenes in Copaifera oleoresins. Both volatile oils and isolated sesquiterpenes had their minimum inhibitory concentration determined against strains of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts. Copaifera langsdorffi oleoresin was the only one active against all of the evaluated microorganisms, displaying good antimicrobial potential.