Contribution to the Study of the Essential Oils from Three Species of Salvia Growing Wild in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Abstract

The essential oils from Salvia willeana Holmboe, an endemic of Cyprus, S. fruticosa Mill, also from Cyprus and S. pomifera L. from Greece (Labiatae) were analyzed by means of GC and GC/MS. The oils were obtained by steam distillation of fresh and dried leaves, flowers and stems of plants collected from different localities. Fresh leaves gave the highest oil yield. The yields varied from 1.3% in S. pomifera, 2.8% in S. willeana and 5.3% in S. fruticosa. A total of 42 components were identified and qualitative and quantitative differences between the oils were observed. The major components found in the oil of S. fruticosa and S. willeana were 1, 8-cineole (4.0–67.5%, 4.7–16.7%) and camphor (5.7–44.5%, 27.7–47.7%) respectively. In contrast, the major constituents of the oil of S. pomifera were 1, 8-cineole (2.3–9.5%), α-thujone (5.0–14.6%) and β-thujone (26.3–44.1%). The differences between the oils from the three species in relation to the date and localities of collection, as well as whether the plant material was fresh or dried are discussed.