Identification of Compounds in Essential Oils of Some Plants in Jiroft Region Using GC/MS

In this study, experiments were carried out on six native medicinal plants of Jiroft (Thymus vulgaris, Satureja hortensis, Mentha piperita, Salvia officinalis, Rosmarinus officinalis and Achillea millefolium). Essential oils were obtained from the aerial parts of plants by hydro-distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography using mass spectrometric detection. The results showed that the highest amount of total phenolic compounds was related to Mentha piperita, Salvia officinalis sage essential oils (18.1 mg gallic acid/ ml) and the lowest amount of phenolic compounds was related to Satureja hortensis essential oil (4 mg gallic acid/ ml). Salvia officinalis essential oil had the highest percentage of free radical scavenging of DPPH in all concentrations and Satureja hortensis essential oil had the lowest. Chemical composition of the essential oils by GC/MS showed one common chemical compound of alpha-pinene was found in all the oils. Major composition oil of salvia officinalis were campher (33.60%), alpha-thujone (25.45%), 1,8-cineol (13.83%), alpha-pinene (7.01%) and beta-pinene 6.49%) while those of Achillea millefoliom were 1,8-cineol (24.37%), carvacrol (15.57%) and gama-terpinene (9.63%). Major composition oil of Thymus vulgaris were Thymol (56.23%), gamma-Terpinene (14.59%) and Cymene (13.49%) and those of Satureja hortensis L. were carvacrol (54.16%), gama-terpinene (28.87%) and Cymene (8.74%). Major composition oil of Mentha piperita were Menthol (40.34%) and Menthone (29.57%) and those of Rosmarinus officinalis were Verbenone (16.93), α-pinene (15.48), Camphor (11.99%) and Bornyl acetate (10.32%). In this study, it was found that the essential oils of all studied plants had phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity and could be used as natural antioxidants in the food and pharmaceutical industry.