Comparative analysis of essential oils from three species of the genus Artemisia cultivated in Ukraine

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the composition of essential oils in the aerial part of three species of the genus Artemisia L.: Artemisia argyi H. Lév. & Vaniot, Artemisia austriaca Jacq. and Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. These species of different origins were introduced at the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden (Kyiv, Ukraine). The conducted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the main components of Artemisia argyi essential oil were alpha-terpinolene (45.984%), pinocarvone (25.651%), alpha-phellandrene (11.446%) and 1,8-cineole (5.895%), whereas 1,8-cineole (19.921%), sobrerol (15.162 %), pinocarvone (14.535%) and 1-nitrophenyl propene (7.738%) dominated in the essential oil of Artemisia austriaca. Such volatile compounds as beta-ocimene (40.307 %), hexyl butyrate (18.291%), mirtenol (10.785%), mirtanal (10.174%), cis-sabinol (6.025%) and verbenene (5.779%) prevailed in the Artemisia ludoviciana essential oil. The domination of 1,8-cineole and pinocarvone revealed similarities between the essential oils of Artemisia argyi and Artemisia austriaca. Considering that many of the predominant compounds have proven therapeutic properties, it could be supposed that essential oils and the raw materials of the three studied species are potentially suitable for future use in the pharmaceutical industry and aromatherapy.