Volatile oils ofCoridothymus capitatus, Satureja thymbra, Satureja spinosa andThymbra calostachya (Lamiaceae) from Crete

Abstract

Coridothymus capitatus, Satureja thymbra, Satureja spinosa and Thymbra calostachya are all endemic plants of the Mediterranean region, characterized by a similar ‘oregano’-like smell. All were very rich in essential oils, yielding 2.6–8.5% v/dry weight. Their essential oils, similar to several Origanum species, contain mainly p-cymyl compounds. The content of p-cymene was 13–20% in C. capitatus, 10–12% in S. thymbra, while it was 22% in the essential oil of S. spinosa and 5% in T. calostachya. The content of γ-terpinene was 7–14% in C. capitatus, 25–28% in S. thymbra and 6% and 3% in S. spinosa and T. calostachya, respectively. The content of thymol was 0.4–34% in C. capitatus, 0.3–36% in S. thymbra, and <1% in S. spinosa and T. calostachya. The content of carvacrol was 5–63% in C. capitatus, 3–45% in S. thymbra, and 41% and 82% in S. spinosa and T. calostachya, respectively. These four compounds predominate in the essential oils of the above species, constituting 70–90% of the oils, and have been shown to comprise one biogenetic route. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.