An interpopulation study of the essential oils of Cistus parviflorus L. growing in Crete (Greece)

The composition of the essential oils of nine populations of Cistus parvifl orus L., from Crete (Greece) and their interpopulation variability, were in vestigated by GC-MS. 114 compounds were identified representing an average of 85-96% of oil composition. Labdane diterpenes were detected and identifi ed in the essential oils of Cistus parviflorus L. for the first time. The r esults obtained From GC-MS analysis of the Volatile oils were submitted to principal component and chemometric cluster analysis. Two main chemotypes ( clusters) were differentiated: the first of West Crete and the second of Ea st Crete. Carvacrol, caryophyllene oxide, alpha -epi-cadinol, abietatriene, 4-epi-dehydroabietol, dehydro abietol, cis-ferruginol and manoyl oxide mix ture of isomers are the main constituents, while oxygenated sesquiterpenes as well as diterpenes have been found in high percentage composition. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.