Changes within the Daytime of Essential Oil Content and Composition of Zahter (Thymbra spicata L.) Grown in Ermenek Conditions

Abstract

Thymbra spicata var. spicata is known as “Zahter ”, “Sater” or “Karabas thyme in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey and leaves and flowers are consumed as spices and tea, while young shoots are consumed as salads.This study was carried out to determine the change in essential oil content and chemical compositionduring the daytime of the Thymbra spicata plant in Ermenek district of Karaman.In order to determine the diurnal variation, the harvest was done at 5 different hours during the daytime (6:00, 9:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00) in the flowering period. The harvested plants were dried in the shade and the essential oil contents were determined by Clevenger apparatus by hydro distillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The highest content of essential oil was obtained at 18.00 hours with 2.96% and the lowest one’s was obtained at 12.00 hours with 2.20%.The main components of the essential oil were determined as carvacrol (23.29% - 39.89%), thymol (16.24% - 21.52%) and γ-terpinene (18.01% - 20.90%).