Essential Oil Composition of Eryngium Campestre L. Growing in Different Soil Types. A Preliminary Study *

Abstract

The essential oil composition of the aerial parts of four populations of Eryngium campestre has been analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Samples growing in different types of soil were gathered at the same phenological state. A total of 84 compounds have been identified from the different samples under analysis. Qualitative and quantitative differences were found between inflorescences (I) and stems and leaves (SL) of the different populations. The main constituents of the inflorescences were identified as germacrene D (30.3-40.3%), β-curcumene (0.7-22.2%), myrcene (3.0-21.7%) and (E)-β-farnesene (0.1-19.0%). The type of soil seemed to exert an influence on the chemical composition of the oils of this species. Whereas high concentrations of myrcene were found in the populations growing in acid soil, its concentration was significantly lower in the alkaline populations. β-Curcumene concentration was higher in the populations growing in alkaline soil and was practically absent from the acid soil population. Regarding the stems and leaves, only germacrene D (31.1-42.4%) and myrcene (0.5-23.15) were considered as main constituents, their composition not being affected by the type of soil. However, terpenoid distribution was clearly influenced by the soil, with the population growing in acid soil containing a greater amount of monoterpenes than that of the population growing in alkaline soil. A more exhaustive study needs to be carried out in order to confirm if the biosynthesis of these compounds could be influenced by the availability of Ca²⁺ in the soil.