Chemical composition variability of the herb essential oil in the ontogenesis of artemisia campestris subsp. campestris

Abstract

The essential oil from the herb of Artemisia campestris L. subsp. campestris harvested at five ontogenesis phases was analyzed by GC, GC/MS and 1H NMR spectroscopy. More than 130 compounds were identified. Terpene hydrocarbons dominated in the oil. Germacrene D (20.3-30.1%), β-pinene (3.7-15.4%) and γ-humulene (6.6-9.8%) were the main constituents. The contents of germacrene D and ã-humulene decreased from the phase before bud formation to the beginning of flowering, then increased until the post-flowering phase. The content of â-pinene at the same periods firstly increased, and then was reduced.