Effect of the Leaf Drying and Geographic Sources on the Essential Oil Composition of Juniperus thurifera L. var. Africana Maire from the Tensift -- Al Haouz, Marrakech Region.

Essential oils of Moroccan Juniperus thurifera var. africana from three provenances (Forêt Islane, Ait Lkak and Plateau of Matat) in the Tensift-Al Haouz, Marrakech region, were analyzed by combined capillary gas chromatography / mass spectrometry. The oil yields from fresh leaves showed on differences among geographical sources. Air dried leaves appeared to yield more oil at the highest elevation (1.03%, Ait Lkak, 2900 m) than lower sites (0.67%, Plateau of Matat, 2200 m; 0.57%, Forêt Islane, 2000 m). The essential oils from each geographic site had very similar composition in fresh versus air dried leaves. The essential oils from provenance Ait Lkak and Plateau of Matat were very similar and characterized by a high sabinene content (21.2, 35.9%), in contrast to 10.% sabinene from the provenance Forêt Islane. The oil from Foret Islane had a high d-cadinene content with 12.7%, whereas Aik Akak and Plateau of Matat contained only 0.6 and 0.8%. The Moroccan oils (J. thurifera var. africana) were compared to European J. thurifera var. thurifera (Spain) oil. Moroccan oils were found to be higher sabinene and limonene than the European oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]