Determination of essential oil variations of Thymbra spicata var. spicata L. naturally growing in the wild flora of East Mediterranean and Southeastern Anatolia regions of Turkey

Thymbra spicata var. spicata is an important medicinal and aromatic plant species growing wild in various parts of Turkey with high significance in pharmaceutical and food industry. It makes it important to know the factors affecting higher yields of essential oil and possible influence of its mineral elements on pharmacological characteristics. This study was carried out to determine variations among seeds, mineral element content of herbs, yield of essential oils and oil composition of T. spicata accessions collected from 30 different locations lying at an altitude of 121–1249 m in Southeastern Anatolia and Mediterranean regions of Turkey. Essential oils from aerial parts of T. spicata were obtained by hydro-distillation and their components were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.The results showed that Thymbra herbages were rich in microelements Al, Ca, Mg, Na and P. Essential oil composition of the samples ranged 1.57–3.27% with characterisation of two different chemotypes. The samples collected from Diyarbakir-Kulp location had 53% (approx.) γ-terpinene in their essential oil, whereas, the other samples had carvacrol as dominant chemical component with a range of 49.7–94.5%. It is planned to select T. spicata populations and introduce them as cultivars with high essential oil, fresh and dry herbage yield.

Research highlightsThymbra spicata is naturally found in Turkey; where it is used as medicinal and condiment. The study was carried out to develop cultivars of T. spicata by selection from samples collected from 30 locations. The essential oils identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. It showed that Thymbra herbages were rich in Al, Ca, Mg, Na and P. Essential oil composition of the samples had characterisation of two different chemotypes. The Diyarbakir-Kulp location samples had γ-terpinene, whereas, the other samples had carvacrol as dominant chemical component.