Phytochemical persistence of Satureja rechingeri under cryopreservation conditions

This research was aimed to compare the type and content of phytochemical compounds of Satureja rechingeri as a valuable, indigenous and endangered species of Iran under cryopreservation. The seeds were kept in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C for 1 week. The flowering shoots resulted from the treated seeds were collected and dried in the laboratory condition and their essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation method. The essential oil compositions were determined using analytical gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Finally, 15 and 16 componentswere identified in the essential oils in the cryopreservation and control groups, respectively. The main components in the essential oil were carvacrol, p-cymeneand and thymol. Regarding the type and percentage of compounds existing in the essential oil, there was no significant difference among the control and cryopreservation treatments. Therefore by cryopreservation technique, the seeds of this valuable endangered species could be preserved for a long period and its extinction may be avoided.