LAUSR

ABSTRACT One hundred and twenty individuals from twelve accessions of Artemisia absinthium grown in experimental plots were harvested during the vegetative period in order to evaluate volatile compositions. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by the GCMS method. Evaluating the components higher than 1% of GC area, a total of sixty-nine compounds were identified, among them thirty monoterpenes and thirty-nine sequiterpenes. Major components of the oils were α-thujone (0–51.7%), β-thujone (0–89.8%), cis-epoxyocimene (0– 75.7%), trans-sabinyl acetate (0–94.5%), sabinene (0–33.8%), β-myrcene (0–68.4%), linalool 15 (0–52.1%), ect. Based on main compounds we defined different chemotypes. The components (Z)-iso-citral, selin-11-en-4-α-ol, (Z)- and (E)-nuciferol isobutyrate characterise new chemotypes of wormwood as they have never been mentioned before in its EO. A connection between chemotype and habitat can not be justified in most cases. Natural populations of the accessions may have similar heterogeneity to those purchased on market.