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Eryngium pyramidale Boiss. & Hausskn. is one of the species of the Apiaceae family, which is used as a spice in Iranian food. In this work, we aim to assess the phytochemical profile and antibacterial activity of the aerial parts of Eryngium pyramidale. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus. Then, it was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID respectively. The antibacterial activity of the essential oil was evaluated against six gram-positive and three gram-negative bacteria by the disc diffusion method and the broth microdilution assay. The phenolic and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extract were assessed using the UV spectrophotometry and HPLC-DAD. A total of 56 compounds representing 94.08% of the total oil were identified, among which sesquicineole (28.49 ± 1.2%) and (Z)-falcarinol (18.04 ± 0.7%) were the major ones. Based on the results, the oil was active against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in comparison with standards. The phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, steroids, glycosides, and phenols in the methanolic, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane extracts. The total phenolic content of the methanolic extract was 0.36 ± 0.01 mg of gallic acid equivalents per g of dry plant materials, and the total flavonoid content of the methanolic extract was 0.90 ± 0.05 mg of quercetin equivalent (QE) per gram of dry plant materials. Five phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the methanolic extract including naringenin, rutin, apigenin, caffeic acid, and gallic acid were identified and quantified.

The composition of the essential oils from four Umbelliferae species of Iran: Ferulago subvelutina Rech. f. (syn. Ferulago turcomanica Schischk.), Ferulago stellata Boiss. (syn. Ferulago koeiziana Rech. f.), Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindle. (syn. Prangos macrocarpa Boiss., Cachrys goniocarpa Boiss., Cachrys prangoides Boiss.), and Ferula ovina (Boiss.) Boiss. obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The major constituents of the oil of F. subvelutina appeared to be limonene (27.0%), α-phellandrene (23.1%) and α-pinene (13.3%) and the main composition of F. stellata was 2,4,5-trimethyl benzaldehyde (61.1%). β-Pinene (29.6% and 20.6%), α-pinene (19.8% and 8.8%), δ-3-carene (11.4% and 10.4%) and β- phellandrene (11.1% and 8.1%) were the main constituents in the leaf and flower oils of P. ferulacea, respectively. The leaf oil of F. ovina was characterized by higher amount of α-pinene (22.5%), bornyl acetate (14.1%) and camphene (11.0%).

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the stem, leaf and flower of Phlomis aucheri Boiss., which is endemic to Iran, stem, leaf and root of Teucrium polium L. and solvent free microwave extraction oil from leaf of Ajuga chamaecistus Ging. Subsp chamaecistus were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Germacrene D (11.10%, 28.31% and 21. 06%) was the main constituent in the stem, leaf, and flower oils of P. aucheri, respectively. The other main component in the stem oil of the plant was (E) - anethole (24.58%) and in the flower oil was β- caryophyllene (15.93%). All three oils were rich in regard to sesquiterpenes. The main components in the stem, leaf and root of T. polium were α- muurolol (25.02%, 20.03% and 19.53%), α- cadinol (15.72%, 8.11% and 13.01%) and β-cayophyllene (10.86%, 10.11% and 10.64%) respectively. All three oils were rich in regard to sesquiterpenes. The major components in the leaf oil of A.chamaecistus were (z)-β-ocimene (12.11%) and germacrene D (10.11%). The oil of the plant was rich in regard to both monoterpens and sesquiter penes.

The Composition of the essential oils from three Umbelliferae species of Iran, Tetrataenium lasiopetalum (Boiss.) Mandem ., Dorema ammoniacum D.Don., which is endemic to Iran, and Leutea petiolare (DC.) M.Pimen. obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Germacrene D (17.72%) and (E,Z) farnesol (12.58%) were the main components in the oil of aerial parts of T. lasiopetalum. The major compound in the stem oil of D. ammoniacum was α-muurolol (13.68%), whereas the leaf oil contained (E)-ß-ocimene (30.94%), γ-terpinene (11.09%), p-cymene (10.03%) and (Z)-ß-ocimene (7.11%). Terpinolene (13.93%, 8.28% and 10.27%), (E)-ß-ocimene (10.24%, 24.63% and 10.46%) and endo-fenchyl acetate (15.1%, 7.42% and 7.57%) were the main constituents in the leaf, fruit and stem oils of L. petiolare respectively.

Background & Purpose: This research focused on the composition for the essential oils, which was obtained by solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) from the aerial parts of Scorzonera calyculata, and hydrodistilled oils from the aerial parts and roots of Centaurea irritans, from Astraceae family, were investigated by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (MS). In addition, the biological activities of the methanolic extracts from the aerial parts of S. calyculata and C. irritans were determined. Methods: Total phenolic content was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu procedure. Antibacterial activity of the methanolic extracts was carried out by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Cytotoxicity of the methanolic extract of S. calyculata against human lung cancer cells (A549) and the methanolic extract of C. irritans against breast lung cancer cells (MCF-7) were measured using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Results: The obtained results of GC/MS technique showed that the SFME oil of S. calyculata, was rich in regard to nonterpenoid and sesquiterpene components. Both oils from the aerial parts and roots of C. irritans were rich in regard to oxygenated monoterpenes. The S. calyculata and C. irritans extracts showed moderate antioxidant activities with an inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 1.48 and 1.99 mg/mL, using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and 73.51 and 44.48 μmol Fe (II)/g dry mass using ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, respectively. The extracts showed high toxicity against gram-positive bacteria and the IC50 value of extracts cytotoxicity was found to be 9.8 and 10.3 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: It appeared that the investigated samples could be as a promising drug for pharmaceutical industry.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial part of Nepeta prostrata, flowers of N. straussii, which are endemic to Iran, aerial parts of N. saccharata and leaves of N. pungens have been analyzed by a combination of GC and GC-MS. The oils of N. prostrata and N. straussii were rich in 1,8-cineole (26.1 % and 22.1 %) and β-pinene (13.6 % and 12.1 %), respectively. The other main component of the first oil was myrtenol (11.8 %) and in the latter one was germacrene-D (18.5 %). The major components of the oil of N. saccharata were neo-isomenthol (18.6 %), hexadecanoic acid (12.1 %), 1,8-cinole (11.7 %) and germacrene- D (11.6 %). (E)-Sesquilavandulol (39.5 %), β-caryophyllene (14.7 %) and caryophyllene oxide (11.6 %) were the predominant compounds in the oil of N. pungens. All oils consisted mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes except that of the N. pungens, which was rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenes.

The composition of the essential oils from four Umbelliferae species of Iran: Astrodaucus orientalis (L.) Drude. (Syn. Caucalis orientalis L.), Thecocarpus meifolious Boiss., Torilis leptophylla (L.) Reichenb (syn. Caucalis leptophylla L., Caucalis Xanthotricha Stev., Pau.) and Xanthogalum purpurascens Ave. Lall. (Syn. Tommasinia kotschyi Boiss., Tommasinia purpurascens (Ave. Lall) Boiss.) obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Spathulenol (15.7 %) and trans-α bergamotene (10.4 %) were the main components among the sixty constituents characterized in the oil of aerial parts of Torilis leptophylla representing 91.3 % of the total components detected. Forty compounds were identified in the aerial part oil of Thecocarpus meifolious representing 90.2 % of the total oil with spathulenol (30.8 %) and caryophyllene oxide (11.1 %) as the major constituents. The leaf oil of Xanthogalum purpurascens was characterized by higher amount of 1,8-cineole (17.6 %) among the fifty-nine compon...

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the flower, leaf and stem of Eremostachys macrophylla Montbr. & Auch., and aerial part and stem of Eremostachys labiosa Bunge. were analyzed by GC and GC -MS. The major compounds in the flower oil of E. macrophylla were 1,8-cineol (19.0 %) and germacrene D-4-ol (10.6 %), where as the leaf oil contained α-pinene (30.0 %), 1,10-di-epi cubenol (22.7 %), elemol (13.3 %) and bornyl acetate (11.0 %).The stem oil of the plant was dominated also by 1,10-di-epi cubenol (34.4 %) and elemol (24.0 %).The chief constituents found in the aerial part of E. labioa were 6,10,14-trimethyl 2-pentadecanone (22.3 %), 1,8-cineole (21.7 %) and α-pinene (16.5 %), while the main components identified in the stem oil were α-phellandrene (28.6 %), β-phellandrene (11.4 %), α-pinene (10.1%) and tetradecane (10.0%). The composition of both oils differs quantitatively and qualitatively.

Water-distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of Anthemis hyalina DC. (syn. A. crassipes Boiss.), Achillea nobilis L. and Cichorium intybus L. were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Twenty-four components of the oil of Anthemis hyalina were characterized, representing 98.1 % of the total components detected. The major constituents were identified as carvacrol (38.4 %) and α-pinene (30.9 %). The oil of Achillea nobilis was characterized by higher amounts of artemisia ketone (46.7 %), among the thirty components comprising 95.4 % of the total oil detected. Hexadecanoic acid (32.9 %), nonadecane (26.1 %) and trans-α-bergamotene (14.0 %) were the main components among the fourteen constituents characterized in the oil of Cichorium intybus representing 100 % of the total components detected.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of three different stages of growth, per-flowering, flowering and post-flowering of Stachys inflata Benth. were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Twenty-eight components were identified in the pre-flowering oil and flowering oil, and twenty-four components in the post-flowering oil, representing 98.3 %, 91.9 % and 90.1 % of their total oils, respectively. All three samples were characterized by higher amount of germacrene-D (30.3 %, 32.9 % and 15.4 %) and limonene (16.4 %, 15.6 % and 13.1 %), respectively. The other main component in the pre-flowering oil was α-pinene (18.5 %) and in the post-flowering oil, bicyclogermacrene (14.3 %), spathulenol (13.6 %) and α-pinene (12.1 %) were predominated.

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Zosimia absinthifolia (Vent.) link. and Smyrniopsis aucheri Boiss. were investigated by GC and GC-MS. The major constituents of the oil of Z. absinthifolia appeared to be germacrene D (20.7 %), β-caryophyllene (14.6 %) and octyl acetate (12.2 %) and the main compositions of S. aucheri were pcymene (26.1 %), caryophyllene oxide (12.0 %) and spathulenol (11.1 %).

Water-distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of Bupleurum falcatum L. and Bupleurum gerardi All. were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Eighteen compounds representing 90.0 % of the oil of B. falcatum were identified, among them α-pinene (29.4 %) and spathulenol (27.7 %) being the major ones. The oil of B. gerardi was characterized of higher amounts of undecane (62.9 %) and germacrene D (11.1 %) among the sixteen components comprising 96.2 of the total oil detected.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts, stems, flowers and leaves of Ferulago contracta Boiss. et Hausskn, which is endemic to Iran, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. β-phellandrene (15.1 %, 15.3 % and 25.0 %) and α- phellandrene (14.4 %, 11.5 % and 25.0 %) were the main constituents in the aerial part, stem and flower oils of F. contracta respectively. The other main components in the aerial part oil of the plant were β-eudesmol (10.9 %) and (E)-β-ocimene (10.0 %) and in the stem oil was also (E)-β-ocimene (11.3 %). The leaf oil of the plant was characterized by higher amount of β-eudesmol (24.5 %), spathulenol (16.2 %) and citronellol (11.9 %). The antibacterial activity of stem, leaf and flower oils of Ferulago contracta against seven gram positive and gram negative bacteria were determined using MIC method. The growth inhibitory zone (mm) were also measured.

The water distilled essential oils from aerial parts of three Artemisia species: A. kermanensis Podl., A. kopetdaghensis Krasch., M.Pop. et Lincz. ex Poljak., and A. haussknechtii Boiss. have been analyzed by a combination of GC and GC/MS. The oil of A. kermanensis and A. kopetdaghensis were rich in davanone (21.4% and 47.9%, respectively). The other main components of the oil of A. kermanensis were 1,8-cineole (16.0%) and chrysanthenone (14.8%), whereas geranial (6.5%) and ethyl nerolate (6.3%) were the other considerable compositions of A. kopetdaghensis. In the oil of A. haussknechtii, 1,8-cineole (16.5%), camphor (14.5%) and artemisia ketone (10.5%) were found to be the major constituents.

The composition of the essential oils from four Lamiaceae species of Iran: Salvia limbata C.A. Mey. (syn. S.chrysadenia), Stachys turcomanica Trautv., Scutellaria litwinowii Bornm. & sint.ex Bornm.(syn. S. chorassanica) and hymenocrater elegans Bunge. (syn. H. paniculata) obtained by hydrodistillation were analysed by GC and GC/MS. Germacrene D (24.5 %), (Z)-(3ocimene (14.2 %) and bicyclogermacrene (11.7 %) were the main components among the thirty-eight constituents characterized in the oil of Salvia limbata representing 98.8 % of the total components detected. Twenty-eight compounds were identified in the oil of Stachys turcomanica representing 93.0 % of the total oil with germacrene D (17.4 %), 7-epi-α-selinene (10.5 %), βelemene (9.2 %) and β-pinene (8.6 %) as the major constituents. The oil of Scutellaria litwinowii was characterized by higher amount of (E)-β-farnesene (20.3 %) and germacrene D (16.9 %) among the thirty-two components comprising 91.9 % of the total oil detected.Ninteen compo...

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the stem, leaf, flower and root of Perovskia abrotanoides Karel. and flower, leaf and stem of Mentha longifolia L. were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Camphor (41.6 %, 32.4 %, 26.2 % and 32.2 %) and 1,8-cineole (10.2 %, 32.1 %, 18.0 % and 24.5 %) were the main constituents in the stem, leaf, flower and root oils of P. abrotanoides, respectively. The other main component in the flower oil of the plant was α-pinene (16.0 %). Piperitenone oxide (73.1 % and 52.5 %) and piperitenone (11.2 % and 27.2 %) were the main constituents in the flower and leaf oils of M. longifolia, respectively. The stem oil of the plant was characterized by higher amounts of cis-piperitone oxide (25.8 %) and borneol (13.5 %). All oils consisted mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes and small percentage of sesquiterpenes.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the flowers, leaves, stems and roots of Hypericum perforatum L. growing wild in the Northeast of Iran were investigated by GC and GC-MS. The major constituents of the flower and leaf oils appeared to be α-pinene (36.0 % and 14.5 %), β-selinene (10.1 % and 25.4 %) and α-selinene (10.0 % and 13.5 %), respectively. The other main component in the flower oil of the plant was β-pinene (15.5 %). Germacrene D (37.8 % and 22.2 %) was the predominant compound in the stem and root oils, respectively.

Water-distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of Artemisia turanica Krasch., Helichrysum oocephalum Boiss. and from the flower of Centaurea ispahanica Boiss. of which the latter two are endemic to Iran, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Nineteen components of the oil of A. turanica were characterized, representing 90.6% of the total components detected. The major constituents were identified as 1.8-cineole (23.3%), chrysanthenone (21.3%) and davanone (19.3%). The oil of H. oocephalum was characterized by higher amount of β-caryophyllene (13.5%), menthone (10.8%), dodecane (9.1%) and menthol (8.9%) among the eighteen components comprising 95.6% of the total oil detected. Benzyl benzoate (26.5%), hexadecanoic acid (17.1%), benzyl salicylate (16.6%) and caryophyllene oxide (12.8%) were the main components among the thirteen constituents characterized in the flower oil of C. ispahanica representing 91.8% of the total components detected.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the stem, leaf and flower Salvia leriifolia Benth. were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Thirty-four compounds representing 92.4 % of the stem oil of Salvia leriifolia were identified among them s-pinene (19.0 %), germacrene D (11.0 %) and o-cadinene (10.5 %) were the major ones. The leaf oil of the plant was characterized by higher amount of s-pinene (31.5 %), 1,8-cineole (24.7 %) and ot-pinene (17.5 %) among the thirty components comprising 98.9 % of the total oil detected. Twenty-seven compounds representing 95.9 % of the flower oil of the plant were identified among them y-terpinene (62.2 %) and p-cymene (11.1 %) were the major ones. The stem oil of the plant consisted mainly both monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, while in leaf and flower oils monoterpenes predominated over sesquiterpenes.

Sixty constituents were identified in essential oil from aerial parts, leaves, flowers and roots of Artemisia persica Boiss. from Iran. The oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and the composition of the oils were analyzed by a combination of GC and GC/MS. The oils obtained from aerial parts were rich in (Z)-ocimenone (39.6%), ascaridole (16.0%) and α-terpinene (10.0%). The major components of the leaves oil were cis-sabinene hydrate (38.8%) and terpinolene (13.3%). The flowers oil was characterized by higher amounts of cis-sabinene hydrate (41.2%) and ethyl 2-nonynoate (24.4%). β-Cedren-9-one (76.7%) was the predominant compound in the roots oil.

The water distilled oils from the aerial parts of Salvia compressa Vent. collected from two different localities and Cyclotrichium leucotrichum (Stapf. ex Rech.f.) were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main components found in the oil of S. compressa collected at Tange Malavi, 751 m (sample A) were β-caryophyllene (21.4%), α-pinene (18.4%) and caryophyllene oxide (13.2%), while in the oil of the plant collected at Mamolan to Pole Dokhtar, 927 m (sample B), β-caryophyllene (21.1%), 3-thujopsanone (15.3%), germacrene D (12.6%), bicyclogermacrene (11.6%) and nerol (10.7%) were the most abundant constituents. Both oils were richer in sesquiterpenes than monoterpenes. Linalool (38.7%), limonene (15.4%) and spathulenol (12.6%) were the predominant compounds in the oil of Cyclotrichium leucotrichum. The oil of the plant consisted mainly of monoterpenes.

Water distilled essential oils from aerial parts of Nepeta sessilifolia Bunge, and Nepeta haussknechtii Bornm. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-three compounds representing 97.4% of the oil of N. sessilifolia, and 27 compounds representing 94.2% of the oil of N. haussknechtii were characterized. The major components of the essential oil of N. sessilifolia were linalool acetate (14.7%) and linalool (14.2%), whereas the major components of the oil of N. haussknechtii were 1,8-cineole (36.7%) and elemol (11.4%). Both oils were richer in oxygenated monoterpenes than sesquiterpenes.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Salvia persepolitana Benth., which is endemic to Iran, and Salvia rhytidea Benth. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Manool (37.3%) was the main component among the twenty-three constituents characterized in the oil of S. persepolitana representing 90.0% of the total components detected. The oil of S. rhytidea was characterized by higher amounts of terpinolene (27.0%), sabinene (17.5%) and limonene (14.9%) which were among the twenty-two components comprising 98.3% of the total oil detected.

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the stems and leaves of Xanthium strumarium L. and the aerial parts of Centaurea solstitialis L. (two Compositae species of Iran) were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-two compounds representing 86.4% of the stem oil of Xanthium strumarium were identified, among which bornyl acetate (19.5%), limonene (15.0%) and β-selinene (10.1%) were the major ones. The leaf oil of the plant was characterized by higher amount of limonene (24.7%) and borneol (10.6%) among the 28 components comprising 85.2% of the total oil detected. Eighteen components were identified in the oil of Centaurea solstitialis representing 86.6% of the total oil with hexadecanoic acid (30.8%) and caryophyllene oxide (25.2%) as major constituents.

The oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Artemisia biennis and Pulicaria undulate were analyzed by means of GC and GC/MS. The major components of the oil of A. biennis were camphor (24.6%), artemisia ketone (11.4%) and α-pinene (10.2%). α-Pinene (45.7%) and 1,8-cineole (27.1%) were found to be the main constituents of the oil of P. undulata.

Water-distilled essential oils from aerial parts of Hymenocrater calycinus (Boiss.) Benth. collected from three different locations of Bojnourd (Iran) village of Yekeh-Shakh (sample A), village of Nodeh (sample B) and Golestan forest (sample C), were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. α-Pinene (10.5%) and sabinene (10.5%) were the major constituents of sample A. The main constituents found for sample B were spathulenol (35.4%) and abietatriene (13.4%). In sample C β-caryophyllene (32.8%) and caryophyllene oxide (16.1%) were the most abundant compounds.

The composition of the oils from leaves and flowers of three Salvia species (S. aethiopis L., S. hypoleuca Benth. and S. multicaulis Vahl.) has been analysed by a combination of GC and GC–MS. During the flowering period, two oils (S. aethiopis and S. hypoleuca) consisted mainly of sesquiterpenes, while in S. multicaulis oil monoterpenes predominated over sesquiterpenes. The major components of the oil of S. aethiopis were β-caryophyllene (24.6%), α-copaene (15.5%) and germacrene D (13.5%). In the oil of S. hypoleuca, β-caryophyllene (22.0%), δ-elemene (15.5%) and bicyclogermacrene (15.1%) were found to be the major constituents. α-Pinene (26.0%), 1,8-cineole+limonene (20.0%) and camphor (19.0%) were the predominant compounds in the oil of S. multicaulis. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the flowers, stems and leaves of Astragalus schahrudensis Bge, endemic in Iran, were analazed by GC and GC/MS. Seventeen compounds representing 96.6% of the flower oil of A. schahrudensis were identified; among them, germacrene D (47.6%) and germacrene B (17.8%) were the major ones. The stem oil was characterized by higher amount of β-selinene(29.4%),δ-guaiene (21.7%), α-guaiene (13.4%) and α-selinene (10.9%) among the 14 components comprising 94.6% of the total oil detected. Eighteen compounds representing 97.3% of the leaf oil of the plant were identified; among them, α-pinene (33.8%) bornyl acetate (14.2%), limonene (12.2%) and α-fenchyl acetate (10.0%) were the major ones. The flower and stem oils of A.schahrudensis consisted mainly of sesquiterpenes, while in leaf oil monoterpenes predominated over sesquiterpenes.

The water-distilled roots oil of Salvia hypoleuca Benth., a plant native to Iran, was studied by GC/MS. Among the 19 constituents identified, hexadecanoic acid (27.4%) and viridiflorol (14.9%) were the major components.

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link. was studied by GC/MS. Twenty-two components have been identified, of which (E)-β-farnesene (27.7%) and ar-curcumene (19.5%) were the major ones.

The essential oil from the aerial parts of Haplophyllum robustum Bge. was isolated by hydrodistillation and was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty-three compounds representing 86.1% of the total components were detected. The oil consisted mainly of monoterpene hydrocarbons and a small percentage of sequiterpenes. The major compounds were sabinene (30.5%), β-pinene (18.2%) and limonene (12.1%).

A water-distilled essential oil from the aerial parts of Johrenia ramosissima Mozaffarian, a newly described endemic species in Iran, was analyzed by GC/MS. Thirty-five compounds representing 88.5% of the oil were identified with bornyl acetate (14.8%), trans-pinocarveol (12.5%) and α-campholenol (9.5%) as main constituents.

The essential oil from the aerial parts of Astrodaucus persicus (Boiss.) Drude. from Iran was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. Of the 41 components which were detected, 30 amounting to 96.8% were identified. The oil consisted mainly of non-terpenoid aliphatic compounds and a small percentage each of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The major components found in the oil were decanal (34.8%), dodecanal (15.5%) and dodecanol (14.3%).

The essential oil from aerial parts of Prangos uloptera DC. from Iran was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty-eight constituents representing 89.1% of the oil were identified. The major constituents of the oil were β-caryophyllene (27.1%), caryophyllene oxide (15.9%) and α-pinene (12.4%).

The composition of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from aerial parts of Echinophora platyloba DC., a native plant of Iran, was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty-nine components were characterized representing 95.3% of the oil. (E)β-ocimene (49.9%) was the main constituent of the oil, followed by γ-decalactone (8.4%), α-pinene (6.0%) and linalool (5.6%).

The water-distilled essential oil produced from the aerial parts of Salvia eremophila Boiss., endemic in Iran, was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty-eight compounds were identified representing 96.0% of the total components detected with α-pinene (24.3%), bornyl acetate (18.9%), camphene (16.0%) and borneol (14.3%) as the major constituents.

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Nepeta makuensis Jamzad et Mozaffarian, which is endemic to Iran, was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty-eight components representing 92.9% of the oil were identified of which viridiflorol (17.5%), T-cadinol (10.7%) and spathulenol (9.0%) were the major ones.

A water-distilled oil from aerial parts of Euphorbia teheranica Boiss. was analyzed by GC/MS. The oil consisted mainly of sesquiterpenes, and a small percentage of monoterpenes and aliphatic compounds. Elemol (57.5%) was found to be the major constituent among the 24 compounds identified.

A water-distilled oil obtained from the aerial parts of Xanthium brasilicum Vellozo was analyzed by GC/MS. The oil consisted mainly of monoterpenes and a small percentage of sesquiterpenes. Fifteen compounds were identified, of which borneol (28.9%), fenchone (21.1%) and isobornyl acetate (9.1%) were the major constituents.

A hydrodistilled oil of the aerial parts of Lomatopodium khorassanicum Mozaffarian (Umbelliferae), an endemic species of Iran, has been analyzed by GC/MS. The major components were found to be myrcene (28.2%), (E)-β-ocimene (15.4%) and limonene (10.1%).

The chemical composition of a hydrodistilled oil of Seseli tortuosum L. ssp. Kiabii Akhani. growing wild in Iran was examined by GC/MS. Thirty compounds, mainly monoterpenes, representing 93.6% of the oil, were identified, with α-pinene (21.2%), β-phellandrene (14.9%), β-pinene (14.2%) and sabinene (13.4%) as main constituents.

The essential oil hydrodistilled from aerial parts Cleome coluteoides Boiss. Was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty compounds representing 93.3% of the oil were identified, with piperitone (40.4%), decanal (18.7%) and elemol (9.2%) as main constituents

The essential oil of the aerial parts of Astrodaucus orientalis (L.) Drude. from Iran was isolated by hydrodistillation. The oil was analyzed by GC/MS. Of the 51 components detected, 40 (amounting to 95.6%) were identified. The dominant components were α-pinene (32.7%), α-fenchyl acetate (14.5%), β-pinene (8.5%) and bornyl acetate (7.9%).

The constituents of the oil obtained by hydrodistillation of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl. grown in Iran was analyzed using GC (retention indices) and GC/MS. Fifty-five compounds were observed, of which 44 could be identified. The major components found in the oil were α-pinene (20.1%), β-pinene (12.1%) and spathulenol (7.2%).

The chemical composition of the oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Stachys byzanthina C. Koch, was investigated by GC and GC/MS analysis. Twenty-four components representing 88.5% of the total oil were identified, of which sesquiterpenes—alpha;-copaene (16.5%), spathulenol 16.1%), β-caryophyllene (14.3%) and β-cubebene (12.6%)—were the major components.

The essential oil of the aerial parts of Achillea albicaulis C.A. Mey. was analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. The major constituents were 1,8-cineole (10.1%), camphor (9.2%), germacrene D (7.8%), piperitone (6.2%), α-pinene (5.9%) and artemisia ketone (5.7%).

The hydrodistilled oil from the aerial parts of Ajuga chamaecistus Ging. ssp. chamaecistus was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Nineteen compounds were identified representing 96.3% of the oil, with β-pinene (15.0%) and linalool (14.5%) as major constituents.

Water-distilled essential oils from leaves of Hymenocrater yazdianus Rech.f., flowers of Stachys obtusicrena Boiss., and stems and flowers of Nepeta asterotricha Rech.f, which are endemic to Iran, were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Fifty-five components of the leaf oil of H. yazdianus were characterized, representing 95.1% of the total components detected. The major constituents were identified as 1,8-cineole (17.6%), β-caryophyllene (13.9%), α-pinene (10.6%) and caryophyllene oxide (10.4%). Germacrene-D (37.5%) and α-bisabolol (23.5%) were the main components among the twenty constituents characterized in the flower oil of S. obtusicrena, representing 90.8% of the total components detected. Thirty-five compounds representing 93.0% of the stem oil of N. asterotrica were identified among which terpinen-4-ol (22.8%) and γ-terpinene (14.1%) were the major ones. The flower oil of the species was characterized by higher amounts of terpinen-4-ol (24.8%), 4aα, 7aβ-nepetalactone (18.2%) and 1,8-cineole (11.6%) among the thirty-three components comprising 98.5% of the total oil detected. The antibacterial activity of the stem, leaf and flower oils of Hymenocrater yazdianus, Stachys obtusicrena and Nepeta asterotricha against seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were determined using the MIC method. The growth inhibitory zone (mm) was also measured.