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Composition of the Essential oil of Artemisia absinthium from Tajikistan

Farukh S. Sharopov, Vasila A. Sulaimonova and William N. Setzer

V. I. Nikitin Institute of Chemistry, Tajik Academy of Sciences, Ainy St. 299/2, Dushanbe, 734063 Tajikistan

Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA

Abstract: Three samples of Artemisia absinthium were collected from two different locations in the central-south of Tajikistan. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. A total of 41 compounds were identified representing 72-94% of total oil compositions. The major components of A. absinthium oil were myrcene (8.6-22.7%), cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (7.7-17.9%), a dihydrochamazulene isomer (5.5-11.6%), germacrene D (2.4-8.0%), β-thujone (0.4-7.3%), linalool acetate (trace-7.0%), α-phellandrene (1.0-5.3%), and linalool (5.3-7.0%). The chemical compositions of A. absinthium from Tajikistan are markedly different from those from European, Middle Eastern, or other Asian locations and likely represent new chemotypes.

Keywords: Artemisia absinthium ; essential oil composition; cluster analysis; myrcene; cis-chrysanthenyl acetate.