Classification of Essential Oils in Some Anatolian Aromatic Plants Using PCA

Öz

This study was conducted to determine the chemical compositions of essential oils obtained from Mentha longifolia (L.) L. subsp. longifolia, Salvia verticillata L., Helichrysum plicatum DC. subsp. plicatum, and Nepeta baytopii Hedge & Lamond, and to statistically evaluate the interspecific chemical differences. The essential oils were extracted using hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). According to the results, the major constituents identified across the studied species included eucalyptol, thymol, menthone, spathulenol, and caryophyllene, with each species exhibiting a distinct chemical profile. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed to assess the variation in constituents and revealed clear chemical differentiation among the species. PCA results indicated that H. plicatum and N. baytopii were characterized by high levels of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes, clustering separately from other taxa. The analysis also demonstrated that certain compounds play a key role in species differentiation, and that the observed chemical diversity may be associated with ecological and environmental factors. These findings highlight the significance of the essential oils not only in terms of chemical richness but also in their potential biological and industrial applications.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Essential oil
• Mentha longifolia
• Salvia
• Helichrysum plicatum
• Nepeta baytopii

Bazı Anadolu Aromatik Bitkilerinde Uçucu Yağlar ve PCA ile Sınıflandırma

Öz

Bu çalışma, Mentha longifolia (L.) L. subsp. longifolia, Salvia verticillata L., Helichrysum plicatum DC. subsp. plicatum, ve Nepeta baytopii Hedge & Lamond, türlerinden elde edilen uçucu yağların kimyasal bileşimlerini belirlemek ve türler arası kimyasal farklılıkları istatistiksel olarak değerlendirmek amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Uçucu yağlar hidrodistilasyon yöntemiyle elde edilmiş ve gaz kromatografisi-kütle spektrometrisi (GC‑MS) ile analiz edilmiştir. Çalışılan türlerde öne çıkan majör bileşenler eukaliptol, timol, menton, spathulenol ve karyofillen olup, her tür kendine özgü bir kimyasal profil sergilemiştir. Bileşenlerdeki varyasyonu değerlendirmek için Temel Bileşen Analizi (PCA) uygulanmış ve türler arasında belirgin kimyasal ayrışma ortaya konmuştur. PCA sonuçları, H. plicatum ve N. baytopii’nin oksijenli seskiterpenler ve monoterpenler bakımından yüksek içerikleriyle diğer taksonlardan ayrıldığını; bazı bileşiklerin tür ayrımında kritik rol oynadığını ve gözlenen çeşitliliğin ekolojik/çevresel faktörlerle ilişkili olabileceğini göstermiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Uçucu yağ
• Mentha longifolia
• Salvia
• Helichrysum plicatum
• Nepeta baytopii

Kaynakça

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