An investigation of phytochemical and antioxidant characteristics of Salvia aethiopis L. and ecological factors affecting its distribution in Hezarjarib, Behshahr Province

The aim of this study was to investigate the essential oil composition, total phenol and flavonoid, antioxidant activities and the effect of ecological factors on distribution of Salvia aethiopis L.in Hezar Jerib region of Behshahr, Mazandaran province. Five samples of flowering branches were collected in early June 2016 from the highlands of the study area and extracted with water distillation method. In addition, five soil samples were taken to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of soil. Oil composition was identified by (GC) and (GC/MS). The ethanol samples were extracted by percolation method. Total phenol (TP) and total flavonoids (TF) of methanolic extracts were measured by spectrophotometry and antioxidant activity was measured by scavenging free radicals of DPPH. The most important of ecological factors affecting the distribution of species were identified by PCA method. Seven compounds were identified in the essential oil. The major components in the flower essential oil were β-caryophyllene (28.64) and 1,6-cyclodecadiene (24.98) while β-caryophyllene (30.3) and copaene (23.3) were the major components in the leaf essential oil. Ecological factors affecting the distribution of Salvia aethiopis werealtitude, Caco3, organic matter, pH, calcium, silt, sand, and direction.