Intra-population chemical polymorphism in Thymus pannonicus All. growing in Slovakia

Abstract

Solid-phase microextraction technique coupled with gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to investigate the inter- and intra-population chemical polymorphism in volatile constituents of three populations of Thymus pannonicus growing in Slovakia. To have an idea on what really the plant emits under different environmental and physiological conditions, a total of 86 individuals were separately analysed using low extraction temperatures (30°C). Data were analysed using a chemometric approach such as the principal component analysis which revealed a significant intra-population variability with the existence of up to four chemotypes: the most abundant is the p-cymene/γ-terpinene chemotype, followed by the geraniol and linalool chemotypes, and, only in one population, by the γ-muurolene/(E)-caryophyllene chemotype. This differentiation of individual plants inside the populations allows better adaptation to ecological conditions of localities and is probably connected with intrinsic genetic diversity of the species.

Variations in Essential Oil Composition and Chemotype Patterns of Wild Thyme (Thymus) Species in the Natural Habitats of Hungary

“…Further αterpynyl-acetate, thymol, thymol/p-cymene and p-cymene/thymol, linalool, geraniol, and γ-muurolene/β-caryophyllene chemovarieties were noted in Slovakia [13,32]. A chemotype containing a high level of geranyl acetate in the essential oil was also described in a German population [33]. Moreover, Serbian authors have found a population in Vojvodina Province (Pannonian lowlands) with lemon-scented essential oil containing geranial and neral, and α-pinene and germacrene-D were also detected as leading monoterpenes, where the role of the latter sesquiterpene in a chemotype pattern was emphasized for the first time [5,34].…”

Development and characterization of monoterpene loaded microemulsions as novel scolicidal agents

“…[6][7][8] These are volatile bioactive compounds present in high concentration in some aromatic and medicinal plants such as oregano, thyme, geranium, and others, where are responsible for most of the plant pharmacological activities. [9][10][11][12][13][14] Microemulsions have gained considerable interest over the years as drug delivery systems due to the advantages of their thermodynamic stability, ease of preparation, and controlled drug release. 15 Evidence also confirms that microemulsions adversely affect the structure and function of the bacterial membranes causing antimicrobial effects.…”