Essential oil compounds of Origanum vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) from Corsica

The essential oil compounds of 274 individual plants belonging to 13 populations of Origanum vulgare L. (Lamiaccae) from Corsica were studied by GC/FID and GC/MS. On the basis of their monoterpene chemistry three different chemotypes were obvious in the Origanum populations: The first and most common type was a 'cymyl' type, with either carvacrol (0.6-65.5%) or thymol (0.0-49.5%) as the main compound. The second, which was very rare, was a 'sabinyl' type with sabinene (7.8-20.2%) and cis-sabinene hydrate (0.7-24.8%) as main compounds. The third type was a 'mixed' type combining compounds of the 'cymyl' and the 'sabinyl' pathway. The 'mixed' type was rich in cis-sabinene hydrate (0.0-52.4%) and gamma-terpinene (0.6-35.4%).