Vegetative characteristics and essential oil of Chaerophyllum macropodum Boiss. in different habitats, Iran

Chaerophyllum macropodum belongs to Apiaceae family has antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties. Vegetative characteristics of the species on 48 plots located in four sites of Tehran and Alborz provinces were recorded. The aerial parts of Ch. macropodum were collected at the flowering stage from the sites and air-dried at room temperature for two weeks then subjected to hydrodistillation, using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The analysis of the essential oils was performed by using GC and GC/MS. Three soil samples were taken from each site and some physical and chemical characteristics were measured. Analysis variance results of data showed that there is a significant difference among the four sites from the viewpoint of growth characteristics, soil features and common components of essential oils. The major compounds of essences of the species in four sites were trans-β-ocimene, cis-β-ocimene, fenchyl acetate, α-pinene, myrcene, γ-terpinene and β-pinene. In order to determine the most important differentiating factors in sites PCA method was used. The results showed the following characteristics are the most effective in differentiating of the sites. Mobarakabad site: density, α-pinene, fenchyl acetate, TNV and pH; Chenar-e Shargh site: terpinolene, myrcene, the mean maximum temperature of the warmest month, OC and SP; Gajereh site: γ-terpinene, p-cymene, trans-β-ocimene, cis-β-ocimene, absolute maximum temperature and sand; Sijan site: β-pinene, absolute minimum temperature, annual temperature and the mean minimum temperature of the coldest month.