Phytochemical Study of Essential Oil from Turkish Oregano (Origanum Onites L.) By Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

The chemical composition of essential oil from Turkish oregano growing in southeastern Turkey was studied by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. More than 70 constituents, of which 57 were identified, were detected. Oregano essential oil from this Turkish region was characterized by a high content of phenolic compounds including thymol and carvacrol (75.72% total) belonging to the menthane biosynthetic type. In addition, essential oil contained linalool (4.42%), p-cymene (3.36%), borneol (2.35%), 4-terpineol (1.74%), -bisabolene (1.24%), anethole (1.12%), caryophyllene oxide (1.10%), β-caryophyllene (0.68%), β-terpineol (0.55%), spathulenol (0.55%), carvone (0.51%), τ-terpinene (0.44%), o-acetylthymol (0.43%), etc. Taking into account the high contents of these compounds in essential oil, Turkish oregano could be recommended for further study as a promising aromatic plant for non-black-earth zones of the RF.