Volatile constituents of Ballota aucheri Boiss., Stachys benthamiana Boiss. and Perovskia abrotanoides Karel. growing wild in Iran

The composition of the essential oils from three Labiatae species of Iran-Ballota aucheri Boiss., Stachys benthamiana Boiss., and Perovskia abrotanoides Karel.-obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. alpha-Cadinol (21.0%) and dehydroaromadendrane (11.8%) were the main components among the 37 constituents characterized in the oil of B. aucheri, representing 82.5% of the total components detected. Twenty compounds were identified in the oil of S. benthamiana, representing 91.2% of the total oil, with germacrene D (16.8%), linalool (16.6%) and beta-caryophyllene (11.0%) as the major constituents. The oil of P. abrotanoides was characterized by a higher amount of 1,8-cineole (28.0%) and camphor (24.0%), among the 23 components comprising 84.3% of the total oil detected. The endemic oils (B. aucheri and S. benthamiana) consisted mainly of sesquiterpenes, while in P. abrotanoides oil monoterpenes predominated.