Essential oil composition of indigenous populations of Hypericum Perforatum L. from Southern Albania

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the yield and chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) isolated from over-ground parts of different populations of Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae) (HP) from southern Albania. The EO yield of 11 specimens of indigenous populations of HP ranged from 2.50 ml/kg to 11.00 ml/kg. GC/FID/MS analyses of the EOs revealed a total of 126 identified compounds representing 77.35-88.29% of the oils. Based on the prevalence of principal com-ponents, two types of EO were distinguished: Pinene-type, which included seven populations with EO rich in α-pinene, and caryophyllene-type, which included four populations with EO rich in trans-(E)-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide. The information obtained can help to assess the potential of the studied Albanian populations for further sustainable wild exploitation to take it into a consideration as a resource of valuable genetic material or for further cultivation and breeding.