Betül Demirci* and K.Hüsnü Can Baser

Abstract: A water distilled essential oil from aerial parts of Tanacetum macrophyllum (Waldst. et Kit.) Schultz.Bip. was analyzed both by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major components were identified as β-eudesmol (21.4%) and cis-chrysanthenol (12%). Seventy five components were characterized representing 86.5% of the oil.

The genus Tanacetum (Asteraceae) comprises various medicinally important taxa which include several annual and perennial species. This genus is represented by 45 species and altogether 60 taxa in Turkey (1,2). Tanacetum spp. which are rich in essential oils, bitter substances and sesquiterpene lactones, are used for their antihistaminic, analgesic, antiinflammatory and insecticidal effects (3). Previously, we reported on the oils of T. armenum (DC.) Schultz Bip., T. balsamita L., T. chiliophyllum (Fisch et Mey.) Schultz Bip. var. chiliophyllum, and T. haradjani (Rech. fil.) Grierson and the enantiomeric distribution of camphor and carvone (4). Essential oil compositions of T. argyrophyllum (C, Koch) Tvzel. var. argyrophyllum, T. argenteum (Lam.) Willd, subsp. canum (C. Koch) Grierson var. canum, T. praeteritum (Horwood) Heywood subsp. praeteritum and T. praeteritum (Horwood) Heywood subsp. massicyticum Heywood were also reported by our group (5). Tanacetum species whose essential oil compositions have been investigated are given in Table I. In previous studies, phytochemical investigations on T. macrophyllum resulted in isolation of sesquiterpene lactones, flavones, and flavonols (6–10). Literature search has revealed the occurrence of only one report on the oil composition of a T. macrophyllum cultivar. p-Methyl benzyl alcohol (42–34%), γ-cadinene (5–8%) and δ-cadinene (8–11%) were reported as major compounds in the leaf and flower oils, resp. (11). Here, we report on the oil composition of T. macrophyllum (Waldst. et Kit.) Schultz. Bip. (Syn: Chrysanthemum macrophyllum Waldst. et Kit.) growing in Turkey.