ESSENTIAL OILS FROM ACHILLEA SPECIES OF DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN

Essential oils were distilled from the following Achillea species: A. biserrata, A. clypeolata, A. crithmifolia, A. filipendulina, A. macrop hylla, A. pannonica, A. pyrenaica, A. sibirica, A. taygetea and A. ten uifolia. GC-MS analysis of the oil revealed the presence of several mo no- and sesquiterpenes along with the phenol carvacrol. The main monot erpenes were beta-pinene, 1,8-cineole and camphor, whereas germacrene- D and bisabolene oxide were the main sesquiterpenes. Principal compone nt analysis of the oil components provided a good discrimination of sp ecies according to their geographic origin. Balkan species A. clypeola ta, A. crithmifolia and A. tenuifolia were clearly separated from Cent ral and Western European species such as A. macrophylla, A. pannonica, A. pyrenaica and A. taygetea. The North Asian A. sibirica was evident ly separated from the Minor Asian A. biserrata and A. filipendulina.