COMPARISON OF THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ESSENTIAL OIL AND HYDROLATES FROM SATUREJA MONTANA

For this study hydrolates produced during the distillation of Satureja montana L., were used, these waters have been analyzed for their organic content. The chemical compositions of essential oil and hydrolates from Satureja montana L., were compared. The essential oil and the hydrolates were sampled from the industry and their analyses were performed by capillary GC-MS with an HP-5 column and with an EI detector. Identification of the chemical contituents were made by comparison of mass spectra and retention indices with literature records. Essential oil of S. montana L. is composed mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes (66,9%) and monoterpene hydrocarbons (16.5 %). Totally were identified (98.2%) of the chemical constituents and the principal were: thymol (47,0%), p-cymene (8,4%), γ-terpinene (8.0%) and carvacrol methyl ether (7.4%). Both the essential oil and hydrolates from S. montana were assigned to thymol chemotype (47.0% and 14.2%, respectively). High content of bioactive compounds presented in hydrolates and also of their nice smell and beneficial effect in the skin, it has been suggested their uses in shampoos and other detergents. Trials on formulation of such products are undergoing in our laboratory.