Variability of Essential Oil Composition of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare Populations from Iran

In this study, the chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from aerial parts of native populations of Origanum vulgare ssp. vulgare from Iran was compared by GC and GC/MS. Plants were collected at bloom stage from their natural habitats located in Kaleybar, Sabalan, Meshkin Shahr and Chalus regions, respectively from East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Ardabil and Mazandaran provinces. Forty identified compounds accounted for 96.2-99.8% of the EO composition. According to the GC/MS analysis, four chemotypes consisting of carvacrol, sabinene, caryophyllene oxide and linalyl acetate were identified in the populations. Nonetheless, the monoterpenes were included the greatest EO fraction in all the populations. Of the monoterpenes, hydrocarbon compounds accounted for more than the oxygenated ones. This paper represents the first study on the EO composition of Iranian specimens of this plant and can be very useful for future breeding programs and medicinal purposes. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________