Effect of Substrate on the Essential Oils Composition of Thymus mastichina (L.) L. Subsp. mastichina Collected in Sesimbra Region (Portugal)

Abstract

The effect of fertilization on the chemical composition of the oils isolated from different parts Thymus mastichina was evaluated. The essential oils were mainly constituted by oxygenated monoterpenes, being the flower oils richest in this group of compounds, independently of the fertilization conditions. Linalool was the most representative component belonging to this group of compounds. Regarding the monoterpene hydrocarbons, the essential oils isolated from the flower oils were poorest in gamma-terpinene and p-cymene, regardless of the fertilization conditions. In the sesquiterpene group of compounds, elemol and T-cadinol were the most representative compounds in the essential oils. Lower concentrations of T-cadinol were always found in the flower oils, independently of the fertilization conditions.