Monarda fistulosa, a natural source of geraniol, rosmarinic acid and flavonoids

To answer the requirements of producers and industry, a research programme aiming at finding natural sources of geraniol was initiated at the beginning of the years 2000. The comparison of three species within the northern American genus Monarda allowed to highlight the qualities of the clone «Morden No.3», a geraniol chemotype ( 90%). This triploid hybrid developed by the research station Morden in Manitoba (Canada) showed its suitability to the pedo-climatic conditions in a Swiss mountain area: very good winterhardiness, good dry material productivity (4-5 t/ha) and a high essential oil content (3.5-6%). Recent works allowed to partly characterise and quantify the hydro-alcoholic extract of the leaves. The leaves contain byproducts of cafeic acid, among others rosmarinic acid (1.7% in the leaves) and flavonoids.