Résumé
French Guyana is a part of the Amazonia rainforest identified as a biodiversity hotspot for both animal and plant species threatened with extinction [1]. With the generalized awareness of this endangered richness a number of conservation and promotion actions have been undertaken over the last years. In collaboration with the Guyarômes society, the potential valorization of essential oils from local plants on the international market is assessed. Lippia micromera Schauer (Verbenaceae family) is a strong aromatic shrub with many branched and white tiny flowers with yellow throat. Its origin is not well established but it is assumed that the plant is from northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela and Guiana), the Caribbean and Nicaragua. [2] It is one of the selected plants for such a valorization action. The species is well known for culinary seasoning, anti-inflamatory, anti-microbial and antioxidant activities [3]. The present poster reports for the first time the analysis of the chemical composition by GC-FID and GC-MS of the essential oil of L. micromera organically cultivated in French Guiana. A total of thirty-one components accounting for 97% of the total GC-FID chromatogram were identified. The evaluation of its antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities against strains of several Candida spp. (MIC) and Leishmania guyanensis (IC50) respectively shows a strong antimicrobial activity ranging from 125 µg/ml to 500 µg/ml according to the Candida species tested, while the anti-leishmania activity seems negligible. Thus the EO was assessed for its anti-ageing and antioxidant properties (in vitro tests in 96-wells plates) and revealed also a strong percentage of inhibition (more than 60%) for elastase and lipoxygenase assays.