Seasonal evaluation and quality control of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. – Apiaceae) at the Núcleo de Farmácia Viva of SES-DF
Foeniculum vulgare, seasonal, essential oil, tincture.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), Apiaceae, is a commonly used medicinal plant, and its essential oil (EO) has carminative and antispasmodic action. It is grown in the Farmácia Viva Program of the Federal District Health Department (SES-DF) and the tincture (T) is dispensed to the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS). The objective was to verify the seasonal variation in the phytochemical profile of EO and T produced from fennel growing at Farmácia Viva of SES-DF in the rainy and dry seasons. Physicochemical tests were performed on the vegetal drug (VD) for morphoanatomical characterization, foreign material, water content and total ash content. EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography. For T, dry residue, pH, relative density and chromatographic profile by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were evaluated. Microbiological analyzes were carried out on EO and T. Three monthly samples were obtained from the rainy season (1A, 2A and 3A) and 5 from the dry season (1B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B). Samples presented one or more parameters outside the limits recommended by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia 6th edition. Major compounds in the EO were trans-anethole (90.6% to 94.4%), fenchone (0.8% to 4.6%) and estragole (3.2% to 3.7%). In the T chromatographic profile a well-defined peak (tR) of 30.09 was observed, presumed to be a flavonoid by UV spectrum. In the microbiological analysis, no microorganisms pathogenic to humans were found. In the seasonal evaluation, there was no correlation between composition and meteorological parameters, indicating the temporal adaptability of the species. The fennel tincture produced by the Núcleo Farmácia Viva of SES-DF was of good quality and safe for use by the population.