Investigation of domestication, active ingredients and antioxidant activity of origanum micranthum vogel

Origanum micranthum vogel is an endemic to Çukurova province in Turkey and its is used as "herbal tea''. Origanum micranthum Vogel which were collected from different locations (İnköy-Tarsus/Mersin, Bahşi-Tarsus/Mersin and Akoluk–Feke/Adana) and plants were domesticated at experiment area of Field Crops Department, Agriculture Faculty of Cukurova University during 2012-2014. In this study was conducted to determine the morphological characteristics, essential oil and components and antioxidant activity of domesticated plant and old plants of Origanum micranthum collected ten years ago and cultivated at research area of Field Crops Department. Plants were grown natural flora, plant height varied 9-25 cm, essential oil content varied 0.11-0.47%, essential oil components changed according to locations. In domesticated plants, plant height, fresh weight and essential oil varied 8.6 -21.1 cm and 12.3-23.6 cm, 7-21g/plant and 31-243 g/plant and 0.61-1.65% and 1.05-1.63% respectively first and second year. The main components of essential oil of cultivated form and Inköy location was carvone, others locations were linalool, terpineol, terpinen and cis-sabinene hydrate. Antioxidant activities were investigated by DPPH, CUPRAC and Folin methods for essential oil and remaining aqueous phase. Both of the essential oil and aqueous phase of Origanum micranthum plants showed a higher antioxidant properties were determined. The stronger antioxidant activity was determined of Akoluk1 and Akoluk2 locations. Key Words: Origanum micranthum, Endemic, Essential oil, Antioxidant activity