The chemotypes of Ethiopian Echinops kebericho accessions

The chemotype of essential oils plays a crucial role in classifying plant subspecies with similar morphological traits and optimizing their biological activities. This study characterized and classified the chemotype of 45 accessions of Echinops kebericho, collected from different geographical areas of Ethiopia, based on 15 major chemical constituents of their root essential oil. The chemical composition was analyzed using GC-MS, and chemotype classification was performed through multivariate statistical analysis. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering formed the accessions into four groups, leading to the identification of three distinct chemotypes. Chemotype A was characterized by a high concentration of dehydrocostus lactone, β-guaiene, and δ-cadinene, while chemotype B contained dehydrocostus lactone, β-guaiene, and caryophyllene oxide. Chemotype C, designated as the dehydrocostus lactone type, was dominated by dehydrocostus lactone. The north Ethiopia kebericho population was uniformly classified as chemotype C, whereas the other populations exhibited chemotypic diversity, encompassing all three chemotypes. These findings highlight significant chemical variability among kebericho accessions, which originated from various geographical locations of Ethiopia. This chemophenetic approach provides a valuable foundation for the targeted improvement, sustainable production, utilization, and conservation of kebericho plant.