Essential oil profile in relation to geographic origin and plant organ of Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff.

Satureja kitaibelii is an endemic aromatic herb used in ethnomedicine for treatment of bronchitis or cough, urinary and digestive disorders, but also as a stimulant, stomachic, carminative, expectorant, anti-catarrhal, astringent and aphrodisiac. Recent investigations also show potential anticancer activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the geographic origin and the plant organs (leaves and flowers) on the essential oil profile of S. kitaibelii. Forty-five individuals from three populations were studied, and their individual essential oils (EOs) were extracted using simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE) and analysed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The essential oil composition is characterised by the domination of monoterpenes (52.5-84.9%), followed by sesquiterpenes (10.9-36.0%). Analyses showed that EO profile varied considerably from one location to another. The dominant component in population Djerdap was p-cymene (21.9%), while linalool (22.2%) and p-cymene (16.9%) dominated EO of individuals from population Poganovo. Also, in the latter population, two chemotypes were observed. Population Temsica EO profile was characterized by the presence of several co-dominant components with similar content (between 5 and 12%). Highest EO variability was observed in population Poganovo, while the lowest was in population Temsica. The essential oil profiles showed differentiation between populations in agreement with the spatial distribution. To better assess the contribution of each plant part in essential oil profile, individual parts (leaves, calyx, and corolla) and whole aerial parts of the plant were analysed from a random individual. Results showed differences between EO profiles of plant parts and whole plant (herba). Furthermore, the chemical composition of herba depends on the quantity of each plant part (leaves, calyces and corollas). Profile of essential oil also varied within the plant. Sesquiterpenes dominated the essential oil from flower parts, while monoterpenes dominated in the essential oil of leaves and aerial parts of the plant.