The Content and Composition of Essential Oil of Origanum majoranaL. Grown in Poland Depending on Harvest Tme and Method of Raw Material Preparation

Abstract:Volatile components of marjoram (Origanum majoranaL.) essential oil obtained from the air-dried ground and unground herb, collected at full flowering (1st harvest), and from regrowth stems (2nd harvest) was analysed by GC-MS and GC-FID. The studied plants belong to the trans-sabinene hydrate chemotype, and the average percentage of this compound was 49.12 %. The harvest of the herb at full flowering stage (July) allows to obtain an oil containing more cis-sabinene hydrate, sabinene as well as cis- and trans- sabinene hydrate acetates than that obtained from the second harvest in October, from which we obtain, in turn, more trans-sabinene hydrate, linalyl acetate, and E-caryophyllene in the oil. These modifications may be important for the practical application of marjoram essential oil and herbal raw material itself. The grinding of marjoram raw material should be considered to be a treatment that enhances the fragrance of the spice. The separation of low-value stems allows obtaining an oil with a higher proportion of sabinene and cis-sabinene hydrate.