Gas Chromatographic Investigations of Essential Oils ofSatureja montanaandSatureja subspicatafrom Yugoslavia

Abstract

The essential oils of Satureja montana L. subsp. montana from five different locations were analyzed by GC/MS. Samples from two locations were collected in four consecutive vegetation periods of plant. Although the oil content varied from 0.8% to 1.8%, the highest oil yield was found in samples collected prior to flowering. Depending upon the location and development stage of the plant, the oils were found to possess significant quantitative differences. The main components found in the oils were carvacrol (4.8–61.1%), thymol (1.0–61.0%), p-cymene, γ-terpinene, β-caryophyllene, bornyl acetate and borneol. Analysis of the oil of the endemic S. subspicata ssp. liburnica revealed the following composition: monoterpene hydrocarbons (17.9%), oxygenated monoterpenes (29.2%), phenols (35.5%) and sesquiterpenoids (11.4%). The main components were carvacrol (21.9%) and bornyl acetate (13.6%).