Phytochemical analysis of the essential oil of Thymus serpyllum L. growing wild in Estonia.
Variations in the essential oil composition of Thymus serpyllum L., growing wild in Estonia (33 samples) and in some other countries (Russia, Latvia and Armenia, seven samples) were determined. The oil were obtained from Estonia (46 samples) in yields 0.6-4.4 and 1.9-8.2 mL kg(-1) in other countries. The T. serpyllum herb grown in Estonia usually did not confirmed to the EP standard in the aspect of the essential oil contents (3.0 mL kg(-1)). Variations in the essential oil composition of wild thyme were studied using capillary gas chromatographic methods. A total of 94 components were identified. Thymol and carvacrol, mentioned in literature as principial components, are not the main components of the essential oil of wild thyme growing in Estonia. (E)-nerolidol, caryophyllene oxide, myrcene and borneol chemotypes of wild thyme drug are distinguishable. The chemical composition of samples from Russia, Latvia and Armenia is very variable.
Paaver
Urve
U
Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
Orav
Anne
A
Arak
Elmar
E
Mäeorg
Uno
U
Raal
Ain
A
D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D000081007:Cymenes; D004957:Estonia; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis; D013943:Thymol / Q000032:analysis; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*
D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010938:Plant Oils; D013729:Terpenes; D013943:Thymol; C073316:carvacrol