Phytochemical variability of essential oils of two Balkan endemic species Satureja pilosa Velen. and S. kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. (Lamiaceae)

Authors: ZHELJAZKOV, VALTCHO - Oregon State University; SEMERDJIEVA, IVANKA - Agricultural University Of Bulgaria; Cantrell, Charles; ASTATKIE, TESS - Dalhousie University; ACIMOVIC, MILICA - Institute Of Field And Vegetable Crops

Submitted to: Molecules
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/11/2022
Publication Date: 5/14/2022
Citation: Zheljazkov, V.D., Semerdjieva, I.B., Cantrell, C.L., Astatkie, T., Acimovic, M. 2022. Phytochemical variability of essential oils of two Balkan endemic species Satureja pilosa Velen. and S. kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. (Lamiaceae). Molecules. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27103153.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27103153

Interpretive Summary: Satureja species have been well known as culinary and medicinal herbs in Bulgaria. Satureja products are used as natural preservatives for food and in many industries (food, perfume, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries). The antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-hyperglicemic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal antimicrobial and anti-mosquito properties of EO of Satureja species have been well recognized many years ago. Two species, Satureja pilosa and S. kitaibelii, are Balkan endemic plant species and the composition of their essential oil (EO) is highly variable. The aim of the present study was to establish: (1) the EO variability in two populations of S. pilosa (the intrapopulation) and (2) the EO variation in S. kitaibelii between nine populations (interpopulation) from Bulgaria and two from Serbia. The present study is the first report to demonstrate such variability of the EO between and within the populations of EO of S. kitaibelii. This study identified promising genetic material that could be further propagated and developed into cultivars for commercial production of S. kitaibelii and S. pilosa.

Technical Abstract: Satureja pilosa and S. kitaibelii are Balkan endemic plant species and the composition of their essential oil (EO) is highly variable. The aim of the present study was to establish: (1) the EO variability in two populations of S. pilosa (the intrapopulation) and (2) the EO variation in S. kitaibelii between nine populations (interpopulation) from Bulgaria and two from Serbia. The EOs of two Satureja species were obtained from aboveground plant parts by hydrodistillation and were analyzed by GC/MS/FID. Overall, the EO yield on intrapopulation level of S. pilosa varied from 0.54% % to 2.15%, while the EO of S. kitaibelii was from 0.04% to 0.43% (interpopulation), respectively. The EO of S. pilosa was found to contain thymol and carvacrol as the main constituents with other major constituents being p-cymene and '-terpinene. The S. pilosa samples in both of the studied populations formed six chemical groups. The major constituents (p-cymene, terpinen-4-ol, bornyl acetate, '-muurolene, endo-borneol, cis-ß-ocimene, trans-ß-ocimene, carvacrol, a-pinene, thymoquinone, geranial, geranyl acetate, spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide) of S. kitaibelii EO were considered for grouping the populations into ten chemotypes. The present study is the first report to demonstrate such variability of the EO between and within the populations of EO of S. kitaibelii. This study identified promising genetic material that could be further propagated and developed into cultivars for commercial production of S. kitaibelii and S. pilosa.