Phytochemical and antioxidant activity of Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz. Essential oil in different habitats of Golestan province

Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz. with a worldwide reputation as af ever reducer, pain reliever, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory has similar therapeutic uses in the natural habitats of Golestan province. In this research, to investigate the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of this plant, the plant leaves were collected from two different forest habitats of Golestan province, 990 meters (Ziyarat) and Kohustan Daraz Nu (2200 meters), located in the southwest of the province at full flowering stage at the end of July 2018. Essential oils were evaluated and analyzed by using the water distillation (Celvenger apparatus) and GC/MS methods, respectively. Extraction was obtained by using maceration method, the total phenol and flavonoids as well as evaluation of antioxidant performance of the extract samples were measured using DPPH and spectrophotometry methods, respectively. Based on the results more than 30 compounds were in both samples, which accounted for 97.3% the camphor (43.12-54.8 %), camphene (6.9-10.04 %), bornyl acetate (6.06-3.1 %), 1-8-cineol and p-cymene (3.1-3.36 %) that were the most important components of essential oil in both habitats. With the increase in altitude in the habitat of 2200 meters the  total flavonoid and total phenol increased up to 148.2 ± 0.7 mg GAE /gr and 218.7 ± 218.7 mg GAE /gr, respectively, while the highest antioxidant activity was also up to 89.5 ± 1.1% in DPPH free radicals. The findings shows that secondary metabolites was increased in high altitude habitats and this issue has been documented in the scientific documentation of medicinal uses of this plant in high altitudes as anti-inflammatory, pain reliever and treatment of infections.