Analysis of essential oils from chemotypes of Thymus vulgaris in Catalonia.

摘要

Hydrodistilled essential oils were obtained from thyme (Thymus vulgaris) harvested from 4 locations in Catalonia, Spain, differing in altitude (100, 300, 700 or 1500 m above sea level) and climatic zone. GC-MS and statistical analyses enabled 2 chemotypes to be identified: a 1,8-cineole chemotype (approx. 20% 1,8-cineole) and a linalool chemotype (approx. 40-70% linalool according to growth stage). Plants cultivated at 300 m were of the 1,8-cineole chemotype, while samples from the other 3 altitudes belonged to the linalool chemotype. Transplantation of thyme from 1500 to 700 m caused significant changes in essential oil composition.