Quimiotipos, Extracción, Composición y Aplicaciones del Aceite Esencial de Lippia alba

Lippia alba is a plant widely distributed in tropical, subtropical and temperate zones of the Americas, Africa and Asia. The essential oil of L. alba has been widely studied and there are many variations in the production process. Therefore, this study is aimed at conducting a review of the main chemotypes, extraction methods, composition and application of the essential oil of L. alba. In this study, the main chemotypes and its relation to genetic and morphological characteristics are discussed. It also discusses the factors that affect the yield, chemical composition, extraction methods and the use and the biological activity of the essential oil of L. alba. Despite the vast literature on the essential oils of L. alba, there is still a lack of development in its application for the production of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food, as well as a lack of agronomic definitions for its cultivation and genetic improvement.