Botanical, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Aspects of Eucalyptus staigeriana: A Brief Review

Abstract

Abstract: The increase in multidrug-resistant bacteria, especially of the ESKAPE group (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.), represents a growing threat to global public health, due to antibiotic resistance and the formation of biofilms. Faced with the scarcity of new antibiotics, alternatives using natural products such as essential oils have aroused interest. The essential oil of Eucalyptus staigeriana, belonging to the Myrtaceae family, is widely used in the cosmetic and food industries and stands out pharmacologically for the presence of oxygenated monoterpenes, which give it antimicrobial properties, especially against gram-positive bacteria. However, its effectiveness against gram-negative bacteria is limited. This narrative review analyzes the botanical aspects and pharmacological activity of the essential oil of this species, based on articles from the PubMed, VHL, and Capes Journals platforms published in the last 10 years, in Portuguese and English. The main compounds in this essential oil include geranial, nerol, limonene, and 1,8-cineole, which are responsible for its antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The oil has demonstrated efficacy against fungal pathogens, such as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Greeneria uvicola, and Botrytis cinerea, as well as larvicidal action against Aedes aegypti and control of nematodes in sheep. In the antibacterial field, it showed activity against resistant gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In addition, the oil reduces inflammatory mediators, aiding in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and offering protection against oxidative damage. The study reinforces its potential for the development of innovative natural pharmaceuticals.

Key words: Monoterpenes; Phytotherapy; Myrtaceae.