Ecophytochemical Survey in Three Species of Artemisia L. Afected by Different Climate and Phenological Stages in Khuzestan Province

The most essential oil compounds in the A.sieberi L., A.aucheri L. and A.vulgaris L. were alpha-pinene, camphene, sabinene, limonene, artemisia-ketone, borneol, caryophyllene, germacrene-D and beta-eudesmol.  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of climatic conditions of two different regions of Khuzestan province (Masjed Soleiman and Izeh) and phenological stages (vegetative, flowering and seeding stages) on ​​the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of essential oil of three species of Artemisia (sieberi, aucheri and vulgaris) belonging to the Asteraceae family. This research was conducted in a completely randomized design in 3 replications. After collecting the shoots of plants in different stages, the essential oil was extracted by steam distillation and GC and GC / MS was used to identify the compounds. The most effective essential oil compounds were alpha-pinene, camphene, sabinen, limonene, artemisia-ketone, borneol, caryophyllene, germacrene-di and beta-odemsol. In addition, the amounts of volatile components and monoterpene hydrocarbons such as alpha-pinene and limonene in essential oils decreased from Masjed-Solieyman (tropical) to Izeh (temperate), however the percentage of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons such as caryophyllene increased. Therfore to obtain the most essential oil in the three studied species of Artemisia, harvesting in tropical climate at the beginning of flowering stage is suggested.