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Chemical Polymorphism of Origanum compactum Grown in All Natural Habitats in Morocco
Author(s) -
Aboukhalid Kaoutar,
Lamiri Abdeslam,
AgackaMołdoch Monika,
Doroszewska Teresa,
Douaik Ahmed,
Bakha Mohamed,
Casanova Joseph,
Tomi Félix,
Machon Nathalie,
Faiz Chaouki Al
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemistry and biodiversity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.427
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1612-1880
pISSN - 1612-1872
DOI - 10.1002/cbdv.201500511
Subject(s) - carvacrol , chemotype , threatened species , thymol , lamiaceae , origanum , domestication , essential oil , botany , biology , habitat , ecology
Origanum compactum L. (Lamiaceae) is one of the most important medicinal species in term of ethnobotany in Morocco. It is considered as a very threatened species as it is heavily exploited. Its domestication remains the most efficient way to safeguard it for future generations. For this purpose, wide evaluation of the existing variability in all over the Moroccan territory is required. The essential oils of 527 individual plants belonging to 88 populations collected from the whole distribution area of the species in Morocco were analyzed by GC / MS . The dominant constituents were carvacrol (0 – 96.3%), thymol (0 – 80.7%), p ‐cymene (0.2 – 58.6%), γ ‐terpinene (0 – 35.2%), carvacryl methyl ether (0 – 36.2%), and α ‐terpineol (0 – 25.8%). While in the Middle Atlas region and the Central Morocco mainly carvacrol type samples were found, much higher chemotypic diversity was encountered within samples from the north part of Morocco (occidental and central Rif regions). The high chemical polymorphism of plants offers a wide range for selection of valuable chemotypes, as a part of breeding and domestication programs of this threatened species.