Phytochemical variability in the essential oil of Matricaria pubescens from Algeria

Abstract

Matricaria pubescens is a plant belonging to the asteraceae family naturally found in Algeria, as well as throughout all of North Africa, commonly used as folk medicine to treat several diseases under several preparations, the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of the plant contains chemical components, that were determined using GC-MS, the variability in the levels of these components was studied in nine samples collected on different dates from two sites in the northern Sahara of Algeria. 58 components were determined, with different levels, the constituents: Delta.3-Carene, Beta-Ocimene, Allo-Ocimene, (-)-Bornyl acetate, Aromadendrene 2, 4.10(14)-Muuroladien-8 beta-ol, Valencene 2 and Dihydronepetalactone II are shown to be the main chemical components of the essential oil, from the analytical obtained restults, the statistical analysis with HCA and PCA tests have revealed different chemical patterns. Aside from seasonality, chemotypes may be the most important source of variation, and the existence of several varieties featured by different chemical distribution patterns, this outcome should be confirmed by further studies with higher samples.