Determination of physiological and phytochemical properties of some Origanum L. species, spreading naturally in the Mediterranean region

This study was carried out to determine the physiological and phytochemical characteristics of the O. boissieri, O. micranthum, O. syriacum var. bevanii, O. laevigatum and O. vulgare subsp. hirtum, spreading naturally in the Mediterranean region. It has been determined that physiological characteristics and mineral substance contents vary across Origanum species. The caffeic acid, resveratrol and hydroxybenzoic acid were detected in all analyzed species, according to LC-MS/MS analysis. Contrary to this, alizarin, thymoquinone and protocathic acid were not detected in the analyzed Origanum species. Among the essential oils obtained from Origanum species, the ones having the highest contents were determined as; carvacrol (63,17%), carvone (12,37%) and thymol (5,28%) in O. syriacum var. bevanii; carvone (75,25%), o-cymene (5,74%) and caryophyllene (3,59%) in O. boissieri; bicyclogermakrene (13,45%), carvacrol (11,21%) and germakrene-D (11,06%) in O. laevigatum; alpha-terpineol (31,94%), linalool (12,27%) and terpinen-4-ol (10,06%) in O. micranthum; carvone (47,29%), thymol (25,34%),-cymene (8,18%) and gamma terpinene (5,83%) in O. vulgare subsp. hirtum, according to GC-MS analysis. Consequently, It was determined that the analyzed species differ in essential oil compositions, phenolic substance content and physiological properties. It is thought to be a reference to the studies on Origanum.