Essential Oil Content and Constituents of Black Zira (Bunium persicum [Boiss.] B. Fedtsch.) from Iran During Field Cultivation (Domestication)

Abstract

Bunium persicum fruit oils from wild type (WT), first (CY1) and second year (CY2) cultivars (fourth and fifth year plants) were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The essential oil content of the WT (9.1% v/w) was higher than the oil content of the CY1 (6.2% v/w) and CY2 (5.1% v/w). No significant differences were found with respect to the oil constituents. The main constituents were γ-terpinene (WT: 44.2%, CY1: 40.8%, and CY2: 36.8%), associated with cuminaldehyde (WT: 16.9, CY1: 14.1, and CY2: 11.8%), and γ-terpinen-7-al (WT: 10.5, CY1: 10.6, and CY2: 18.7%). In total 35 components could be identified covering 95.4% (WT), 94.9% (CY1) and 96.3% (CY2) of the oil content. We also studied the phenology of the plants during the period 1999–2004.

Key Word Index:

• Bunium persicum
• Apiaceae
• essential oil composition
• γ-terpinene
• p-cuminaldehyde
• γ-terpinen-7-al (p-mentha-1,4-dien-7-al)