Quantitative and qualitative comparison of Satureja khuzestanica essential oil in different habitats in west and south-west Iran

The biological activity and use of essential oils in different industries depends on the oil composition, which is affected by several factors. Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad (Persian name, "Marzeh khuzistani") belongs to the family Lamiaceae is an endemic plant to Iran that is widely distributed in the southern part of Iran. The essential oils obtained from Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad in full flowering stage from 3 different habitats in west and south west of Iran were evaluated for their chemical composition. The aerial parts were subjected to hydrodistillation for 5 h using a clevenger apparatus, giving yellow oil. Analysis of the volatile compounds was carried out with GC/MS system. The average yield of essential oil in 3 habitats was 1.4 to 2.8 % (Lives, 1.4%: Mongere, 1.6%: Takhtechan, 2.8%). The number of identified compounds in the essential oil were different in these habitats (Lives, 34: Mongere, 29: Takhtejan, 30). In the oil obtained from Lives, carvacrol (90/74%), β-bisabolene (2/73 %), γ-terpinene(1/19 %) and p-cymene (1/10 %), whlile in Mongere samples carvcacrol (93/60 %) and β-bisabolene (1/47 %) were characterized as the main components. In Takhtejan carvacrol (89/60 %), caryophellene oxid (3/01%), β-bisabolene (2/56 %), γ-terpinene (1/78 %) and p-cymene (1/78 %) were found as the major components. There were notable differences in the amounts of several compounds among these 3 habitats. Results from this study showed that ecological and regional condition of habitat can influence the amount and kind of essential oil components.