PHYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF THYMUS TAURICUS (LAMIACEAE)

Backgrround. Natural essential oils (EOs) are currently in high demand on the world market and are an area of significant positive financial effect. However, in Ukraine, the state of research and introduction into culture of new, primarily autochthonous species, requires stimulation and interest from domestic EO producers, which are currently few. In this work, we aimed to investigate the EO potential of Thymus tauricus Klokov & Des.-Shost. (Lamiaceae), as an aboriginal species introduced in the conditions of the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine (Right-Bank Forest-Steppe) and to outline the prospects for practical use as a raw material crop. Methods. In laboratory studied the aerial herbaceous part of Th. tauricus. Raw materials were harvested in the flowering phase of plants. EO was isolated by hydrodistillation. Analysis of oil components was performed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS). Results. The EO content in the above-ground part of Th. tauricus is 1,91-2,66%. It identified 70 compounds and determined their quantitative content. The dominant ones are linalyl acetate (19,6%), linalool (18,3%), α-terpinyl acetate (13,4%), carvacrol (12,4%), ρ-cymene (4,2%) and others. They exhibit a diverse pharmacological effect on the human body, in particular antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial, etc. In general, the phytochemical composition of EO Th. tauricus determines the practical use of plant raw materials of this species, volatile oil and its individual compounds. Conclusions. The EO content in the raw material of introduced plants Th. tauricus, as well as the qualitative and quantitative component composition, was determined. The dominant compounds determine its potential pharmacological action, which should be studied in more detail in practice. The plants represent an interesting chemical phenotype for further biochemical, ecological studies and practical breeding work.