Variation of the Essential oil and Main Component from Different Origin of Levisticulum officinale Koch.

Abstract

The essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation and their composition determined capillary GC method with standard. The essential oil content showed significant differences between the two populations on the vegetative organs. The essential oil level of the leaves and roots was considerably higher in the Korean population at full flowering and waxy ripening stage but essential oil content of the roots was significantly higher in the Hungarian taxon at leaf rosette stage. We observed the essential oil accumulation tendency was mianly dependent on plant organs and intra-specific taxon during the vegeation period. Butylidene-phthalide was proved to be the main component of the oil in both population roots (50.9­73.3%), while dimethyl­acetate was showed as a major compound on the over­ground parts (56.7­62.0%). The qualitative composition of the essential oil in the reproductive organs concerning the identified compounds was the same as the vegetative parts with the main component α­phellandrene (4.8­28.1%) and butylidene­phtalide (9.7­16.1%). The quantitative composition showed some changes during the ontogenesis phases. Most characteristic ones are the decreasing proportion of dimethyl­acetate (from 7.3% to 1.1%) and the appearance of α­pinene (from 0.5% to 1.5%) only after fruit setting in both population.