Essential Oils of Salvia hydrangea DC. ex Benth. from Kiasar-Hezarjarib regions, Iran-Impact of Environmental Factors as Quality Determinants

The focus of the present study was to investigate the chemical composition of essential oil of Salvia hydrangea DC. ex Benth. growing wild in Kiasar-Hezarjrib, Iran. In addition, effects of altitude and some soil properties on the essential oil quality and quantity of S. hydrangea was identified. The samples collected from two altitudes (1100 and 2000 m) in blossoming period, were analyzed by hydrodistillation method using a clevenger-type apparatus by GC and GC/MS. Ninety-one compounds were identified, representing 99.79% and 99.95% of the oils from the altitudes of 1100 and 2000 m respectively. The main constituents of the oils in altitude 1100 were 1,8-cineole (12.70%), camphor (12.06%), β-pinen (11.62%), naphthalene (10.83%), α-amorphene (9.30%), bicycleheptan (9.18%) and δ-cadinene (8.25%). In contrast, in altitude of 2000 m the oil of plant species was rich in naphthalene (19.94%), 1,8-cineole (9.45%), camphor (5.71%), α-terpineol (5.11%) and ylangene (4.94%). In both altitudes naphthalene, 1,8-cineole and camphor being the major compounds respectively. Results indicated that the altitude of 2000 m revealed greater quantity. The essential oil compositions showed the highest percentage in the altitude of 1100 m and amount of main and common essential oil compositions was more in the altitude of 1100 m. A high positive correlation was found between the essential oil efficiency and the soil factors of pH, S.P, EC, Mn and Mg in both altitudes while, the common essential oil composition showed negative correlation with these factors. In general, the higher essential oil efficiency and compositions were found in the higher altitude, but percentage of the essential oil compounds was more in the lower altitude therefore, at lower altitudes there are more optimal conditions for taking the S. hydrangea essential oil.