Chemical Compositions of Essential Oil from the Aerial Parts of Tagetes patula L. and Tagetes erecta L. Cultivated in Northeastern Iran

The essential oils of Tagetes patula L. and Tagetes erecta L. from dried aerial parts (leaves and flowers) grown in Iran were obtained by hydro-distillation assay. The essential oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. The essential oil contents of T. patula and T. erecta were 0.57 and 0.48 % (w/w), respectively. In total, 38 and 40 different compounds were identified representing 93 and 90 % of total essential oils from T. patula and T. erecta, respectively. The major compounds of T. patula essential oil were beta-caryophyllene (24.53 %), piperitenone (10.96 %), piperitone (9.66 %), and alpha-terpinolene (7.62 %). The T. erecta essential oil was characterized by neophytadiene (17.22 %), piperitone (12.52 %), beta-caryophyllene (8.7 %), and trans-phytol (7.59 %). This is the first report of neophytadiene as the main compound in T. erecta an important new compound in this plant. Our findings suggested that the essential oil of these herbs due to different constituents can be used by the flavor, fragrance, and pharmaceutical industries.