Determination of essential oil constituents and antioxidant activities of hybrid species Salvia × karamanensis Celep & B. T. Drew and its parents (Salvia aucheri Benth. subsp. canescens (Boiss. & Heldr.) Celep, Kahraman & Dogan × Salvia heldreichiana Boiss. ex Benth.)

Salvia × karamanensis is endemic to Türkiye and is a hybrid of Salvia aucheri subsp. canescens and Salvia heldreichiana. In this study, the essential oil content and composition of S. × karamanensis hybrid species and its parents S. aucheri subsp. canescens, S. heldreichiana were determined. Essential oils of the plants were obtained by hydro distillation method using Clevenger apparatus for 3 h and the essential oil components were determined by GC-MS. As a result of the distillation, it was determined that S. aucheri subsp. canescens, contains 0.80%, while S. × karamanensis and S. heldreichiana contain 0.64 and 0.48% essential oil, respectively. The major components of the essential oils were borneol, 1,8-cineole, camphor, α-pinene, borneol and α-terpineol. The DPPH antiradical activity of the samples was determined as 46.70 ± 0.09, 33.78 ± 0.68 and 25.93 ± 0.72 (S. aucheri subsp. canescens, S. × karamanensis and S. heldreichiana), respectively. The highest phenolic content in terms of gallic acid was obtained from S. aucheri subsp. canescens with 15,02 mg/100 ml, followed by S. × karamanensis with 14,43 mg/100 ml and S. heldreichiana with 13,43 mg/100 ml. •Essential oils obtained from the hybrid Salvia x karamanensis and its parents.•The highest essential oil content was obtained from Salvia aucheri subsp. Canescens.•Salvia aucheri subsp. Canescens showed the highest antioxidant activity.•It was determined that the chemical components of the hybrid species Salvia x karamanensis carried the characteristics of its parents.