Chemical composition of essential oils from Smyrnium cordifolium Boiss. (Apiaceae) ecotypes

Smyrnium is a rich source of isofuranodiene, a bioactive furanosesquiterpenoid. This study evaluated root samples from ten ecotypes of S. cordifolium from southwest Iran and found that their essential oils were predominantly composed of isofuranodiene and curzerene. The principal component analysis identified four chemotypes among the ecotypes, characterized by isofuranodiene, curzerene, thymol, and (E, E)-germacrone. Hierarchical clustering analysis separated the ecotypes into three clades, in which curzerene, isofuranodiene, and curzerenone played major roles. The data acquired highlights that the essential oil composition in S. cordifolium is primarily associated with the genetic makeup rather than the geographical origins of the samples. Insights into the chemical composition of the genus Smyrnium can favor the selection of better-suited genotypes for industrial purposes, as well as facilitate the development of conservation strategies and breeding programs.