The essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. ssp vulgare growing wild in Vilnius district (Lithuania)

The plants of wild Origanum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare were collected in 10 localities of Vilnius district (Lithuania) in 1995-1999. The main constituents of the essential oils from 8 localities were beta -ocimene(14.9-21.6%), germacrene D (10.0-16.2), beta -caryophyllene(10.8-15.7%) and sabinene (6.6-14.2%). The essential oils from two localities contained only three above compounds as major components: germacrene D, beta -ocimene and sabinene or P-caryophyllene, beta -ocimene and germacrene D. Three chemotypes of essential oils were identified. The main chemotype was beta -ocimene-germacrene D-beta -caryophyllene. The terpenic hydrocarbons made up 52.8-80.6% of the essential oils. The 42 identified components made up 85.6-95.0% of the essential oil. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.