Avicenna Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Background: Stachys (Lamiaceae) is a genus with varied effects and applications in traditional medicine. The essential oil (EO) of different species of genus Stachys has received much attention in different studies. According to previous evidence, the components of EO in different species have diversity although there is no previous data regarding investigating Stachys fruticulosa for EO. Considering the importance of the plants of genus Stachys, vast types of compounds in the EO of the genus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the components of EO of S. fruticulosa M. Bieb.

Methods: The EO of the aerial parts from S. fruticulosa was obtained by hydrodistillation and then the oil was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and 95% of the oil (17 components) was identified accordingly. The identity of the components was assigned by comparing their mass spectra and retention indices with those of authentic samples.

Results: Most oil components were α-terpinyl acetate (24.6%), 3-n-Butyl phthalide (20.5%), p-cymene (18.2%), and β-phellandrene (18.2%).

Conclusion: The components of essential oil from S. fruticulosa were identified for the first time, and these substances may be responsible for the biological effects of these essential oils.