Determination of <i>Cyclotrichium niveum</i> Essential Oil and Its Components at Different Altitudes

Abstract

Cyclotrichium niveum (Boiss.) Manden. Scheng. is a perennial species of Lamiaceae family of high importance due to essential oils compounds. Essential oil rates and essential oil components were determined in plants of this species collected from different altitudes. In order to have specific data, the plants were harvested from their natural growing area; the samples were picked up during full flowering period, from three different altitudes (890 m, 1239 m and 1605 m) in order to enhance that essential oil rates are directly influenced by this aspect. The analysis of essential oil extracted included 42 components and pulegone was the main component among these. Whereas the lowest pulegone rate was determined as 59.9% at 890 m altitude, the highest value (68.12%) was determined at 1605 m. It was also determined that as the altitude increased, the rate of this particular component in essential oil also increased, while the rate of other important components (such as isomenthone, limonene, 1,8-cineole, isopulegone) decreased.