Analysis of the essential oil of Thymus eriocalyx from Iran

Essential oils isolated by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Thymus eriocalyx (Ronniger) Jalas, before owering and full owering stage, were analysed by a combination of capillary GC and GC–MS. Seventy components were identied, constituting approximately 92.5% of the oil. The main constituents of the essential oil were thymol (42.8% and 43.1%), linalool (11.1% and 4.0%), γ ‐terpinene (6.0% and 6.3%), 1,8‐cineole (5.6% and 3.3%), borneol (3.4% and 4.9%) and α ‐terpineol (1.8% and 7.1%) at before owering (10 days before bloom formation) and full owering stage, respectively. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.