Evaluation of essential oil content and composition of some improved cultivars of chamomile, Moldavian dragonhead and fennel in Shahrekord climate condition

In this study, the quantity and quality of essential oil (EO) of chamomile cv. ‘Bodegold’, Moldavian dragonhead cv. ‘SZK1’ and fennel cv. ‘Soroksari’ were evaluated in Shahrekord climate condition in Spring 2014, Shahrekord University. Chamomile’ flowers and dragonhead’ herb were harvested at full flowering stage. Fennel’ fruits were harvested at waxy and full-matured stages. The EO content of each sample was extracted using a Clevenger-type apparatus, and then was characterized by gas chromatography and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry methods. The EO content of chamomile, Moldavian dragonhead, fennel (waxy) and fennel (mature) was 0.69%, 0.35%, 4.9% and 4.4%, respectively. The main constituents detected in the chamomile EO were α-bisabolol oxide A (43.57%), β-Farnesene (24.09%) and α-bisabolol oxide B (10.34%). Geranyl acetate (27.29%), geranial (24.64%), neral (20.93%) and geraniol (18.54%) were the most abundant components of the EO in dragonhead. The main component of EO in fennel in waxy and mature stages was trans-anethole, but its content in maturity was higher than that in the waxy stage. In conclusion, chamomile, Moldavian dragonhead and fennel showed promising characteristics in terms of EO content and composition in Shahrekord climate condition.