Essential oil of Calamintha sylvatica Bromf. and Calamintha vardarensis Silic

Abstract

The essential oil of three populations of Calamintha sylvatica Bromf. native to the mountain region of southwestern Serbia and one population of Calamintha vardarensis Silic from southern former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were studied. The highest oil yields were found in C. vardarensis (1.54%), whereas in C. sylvatica oil yields varied from 0.11% tip to 0.94%. In all samples, cis-piperitone oxide was a major compound. The highest percentage was found in the oil of C. vardarensis (65.6%). In C. sylvatica piperitone oxide varied from 48.9-59.2%. In the examined samples, oil composition appeared to vary more according to geograplucal ratlier than genetic factors.