Investigation of volatile oil contents and some ecological characteristics of wild and cultivated Sideritis stricta Boiss. & Heldr.

The indiscriminate removal of medicinal and herbal plants from their natural habitats, the colonization of alien and invasive species in the habitats where these valuable plant species grow, the decrease in the purity rates of plants, and the extinction of plant species make these types of plants vulnerable to threats. The cultivation of such valuable plant species can prevent such situations. However, it remains a subject of interest for ecologists whether cultivated plants undergo any loss of characteristics due to these factors. In this study, the endemic medicinal plant Sideritis stricta Boiss. & Heldr. was utilized to shed light on this matter. The volatile oil contents of two wild forms (Kemer: W1 and Serik: W2) and one cultivated form (Kaş: C) of the species were compared, and environmental factors believed to influence volatile oil content were examined. The analysis results revealed that the major components (α-pinene, β-pinene, and caryophyllene) were mostly present in similar amounts. β-pinene was found to be the predominant compound in C, W1, and W2 samples, with percentages of 32.28%, 27.33%, and 40.61%, respectively. All volatile oils were found to be rich in monoterpenes. The humidity and soil pH values in the cultivation area differed from the natural habitats of the wild samples, and these factors had an impact on volatile oil yield and composition. Consequently, when conducting cultivation studies on a species, it is essential to adapt the natural form of the species to cultivation conditions by closely observing the environmental factors.