Essential oils from hairy root cultures and from plant roots of Achillea millefolium

Abstract

Abstract The essential oils isolated from roots of two Achillea millefolium populations (BGL and CGA) and from two hairy root cultures (A4 and LBA) derived from one of these were analysed by GC and GC–mass spectrometry. The essential oils from the plant roots were obtained in a yield of 0.10% (BGL) and 0.05% (CGA) (v/w), whereas that of both hairy root cultures attained 0.05% (v/w). Compared on a dry weight basis, the yield from the hairy root cultures was similar to or higher than that from the plant roots. The oxygen-containing sesquiterpene fraction of the root oils from both plant populations was the most characteristic one, epi-cubenol being the main component of these oils (18% for BGL and 26% for CGA). Oxygen-containing monoterpenes constituted the most important fraction of the essential oils from both hairy root cultures, neryl isovalerate being the main component (27% and 43% for A4 and LBA, respectively). No major differences were detected in the root essential oil profiles of the two A. millefolium plant populations, but qualitative and quantitative differences were found between the essential oils from the plant roots and those from the hairy roots, and also between the oils from the two hairy root cultures.