CHEMOMETRICS AND ESSENTIAL OIL ANALYSIS - CHEMICAL POLYMORPHISM IN 2 THYMUS SPECIES

The utility of multivariate analysis techniques in the study of infras pecific variability of essential oils is shown through its application to Thymus moroderi and T. antoninae. The composition and chemical pol ymorphism of their essential oils is investigated. Both taxa showed th e same major constituents: 1,8-cineole, camphor, camphene and borneol, but several differences in their sesquiterpene fraction. Chemometric analysis of the oil of individual plants from different populations of the two species showed the existence of two types of essential oils i n T. moroderi with different sesquiterpene composition and low degree of chemical polymorphism in the case of T antoninae.