The aerial parts were air-dried at ambient temperature in the shade and hydrodistilled using a Clevenger-type apparatus for 5 h, giving yellow oil in 0.6% yield for the wild plant and 1.2% for the cultivated plant. The oils were dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and stored at 4-6°C. Identification of the Oil ComponentAnalytical gas chromatography (GLC) was carried out using a Hewlett-Packard HP 6890 chromatograph with a DB5 column (methyl phenyl siloxane 30 m × 0.25 mm i.d.); with a flame ionization detector; carrier gas, helium, with a split ratio of 1:10. Oven temperature programme was 60°C to 240°C at a rate of 4°C/min; injector temperature, 220°C; detector temperature, 240°C. GC-MS was performed (quadrupole mass spectrometer, HewlettPackard 6890) on a cross-linked 5% phenyl methyl siloxane column (HP-5, 30 m × 0.25 mm i.d.) with a helium as the carrier gas and a split ratio of 1:10,