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Abstract
Matricaria chamomilla Var. recutita (L.) has been used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries due to the use of chamazolene and bisabolol compounds. The yield, essential oil content and compositions of six native genotypes and two commercial varieties of German chamomile was evaluated. The essential oil compounds were identified from the plant aerial parts using GC-FID and GC/MS techniques. The highest essential oil percentage was obtained in Khuzestan accessions (ranged from 0.82 % to 0.86 %). The result of essential oil analysis showed three chemotypes (α-bisabolol oxide-A, α-bisabolol oxide-B, and α-bisabolone oxide-A) of the accessions. The two foreign varieties of Germany and Hungary had higher values of α-Bisabolol oxide-A (39.1 % and 40.7 %), respectively, that were comparable with values of local accessions of Ramhormoz and Taft with values of 37.9 % and 36.2 %, respectively. The highest α-bisabolone oxide-A with values of 58.3 % and 63.5 % were obtained for Dashtestan and Andimeshk accessions, respectively that were much higher than commercial varieties (17.4 and 12.8 %). Similarly, the highest α-bisabolol oxide-B with values of 22.4 % and 23.9 % were obtained for Shadegan and Karaj accessions, respectively that were higher than controls (17.1 % and 8.7 %). It was concluded that the compounds of essential oil were mostly influenced by genetic than environmental factors, indicating good potential of Iranian native genotypes for breeding improved new varieties.