Chemotypes and bioactivity of essential oils of Croton grewioides Baill

Croton grewioides Baill. is a medicinal and aromatic plant native to northeastern Brazil, recognized for its diverse biological activities, mainly attributed to its rich phytochemical profile. This review systematically explores the scientific production, extraction methods, chemical composition and biological properties of C. grewioides essential oils (CGOEs), highlighting their therapeutic and agricultural applications. Furthermore, the methodological quality of the prospective studies was evaluated. Twenty-four biological activities were attributed to CGOEs, with predominant pharmacological effects, such as antihepatotoxic, antidepressant, wound healing, anxiogenic, gastroprotective, antimalarial, and vasorelaxant. Estragole was the compound with the greatest predominance among the reviewed studies. Based on the results, we suggest that the species presents five chemotypes (estragole, methyl eugenol, eugenol, anethole, and (E)-anethole), and the compounds estragole and (E)-anethole can be considered chemical markers of this species. This comprehensive review provides essential information for future research with CGOEs in the agricultural, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics sectors, ensuring their authenticity and efficacy.