Abstract

SOTO VASQUEZ, Marilú Roxana et al. Chemical composition and effect of the essential oil from the leaves of Lippia alba (Verbenaceae) on the academic stress levels of university students. Arnaldoa [online]. 2019, vol.26, n.1, pp.381-390. ISSN 1815-8242.  http://dx.doi.org/10.22497/arnaldoa.261.26119.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil of the leaves of Lippia alba (Asteraceae) and to evaluate its effect on the academic stress levels of university students. The leaves were collected from the Rosa Elena de los Ríos Martínez Botanical Garden and were subjected to hydrodistillation for the extraction of the essential oil, and the chemical composition was carried out by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC- FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To determine the effect of the essential oil on the levels of academic stress, an experimental study was carried out with pretest and posttest measurements, in a sample of 38 participants, divided into a control group and an experimental group. The levels of academic stress were evaluated through the academic stress inventory (IEA). The chemical analysis showed that carvone was the main component (54.1 %). Stress levels showed a reduction in the posttest phase of the experimental group, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Cohen’s D score was 0.92 and the percentage of change showed a 12.96 % reduction in academic stress.

Keywords : essential oil; Lippia alba; academic stress.

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