Essential oil composition of the leaves and stems of Meum athamanticum Jacq., from Spain

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A 2004-05, Vol.1036 (2), p.245-247
• Main Authors: Palá-Paúl, Jesús, Garcı&#x0301, a-Jiménez, Rita, Pérez-Alonso, M José, Velasco-Negueruela, Arturo, Sanz, Jesús
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Analytical biochemistry: general aspects, technics, instrumentation; Analytical chemistry; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Apiaceae - chemistry; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical industry and chemicals; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Essential oils; Essential oils, perfumes; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; General pharmacology; Medical sciences; Meum athamanticum; Monoterpenes; Oils, Volatile - analysis; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant materials; Plant Stems - chemistry; Terpenes; Washing products. Cosmetics and toiletries. Perfumes
• ISSN: 0021-9673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2004.02.064

The essential oil of the leaves and stems of Meum athamanticum Jacq., has been extracted by steam distillation and analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The monoterpene fraction was predominant while the sesquiterpene one was practically absent. The principal constituents have been identified as ( E)-β-ocimene (29.6%), γ-terpinene (17.9%), terpinolene (17.0%) and p-cymene (9.7%). Our results show that the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained of the leaves and stems of M. athamanticum from Spain is different to that obtained from plants of Germany, Italy and France.