Chemical composition of the essential oil of Lilium ledebourii from Iran

Abstract

Lilium ledebourii (Liliaceae), locally named „Susan-e-Chelcheragh“ is an endemic and rare species growing on the highlands of Damash region in Gilan Province and Fandeghlo forests in Ardabil Province north part of Iran. The habitat of this species is under IUCN protection, Category III (Natural Monument) by the Iranian Department of Environment since 1976. This plant is a unique species of Lilium genus that is native of north Iran [1]. The aim of the present study was the investigation of the chemical composition of the essential oil of L. ledebourii (Apiaceae) from Iran by GC/FID and GC/MS methods. The plant material was collected during its flowering stage in June, 2008, on the Ardabil Mountains of the North-West of Iran. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation of the dried herb using a Clevenger type apparatus. The oil yield calculated on moisture free basis was 0.1%. Twenty-six compounds were characterized in the essential oil of Lilium ledebourii, representing 99.1% of the oil, of which linalool (74.1%), E-6-tetradecanyl acetate (11.7%), benzyl salycilate (2.7%) and hexadecanal were found to be the major components. Analysis of oil revealed that oil was rich in linalool.