Chemical investigation of essential oils from one Greek endemic and two Balkan endemic members of genus <i>Stachys</i> (Lamiaceae)

This study investigated the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) of the three Greek members of genus <i>Stachys</i>, namely <i>S. horvaticii</i>, <i>S. leucoglossa</i> subsp. <i>leucoglossa</i>, and <i>S. parolinii</i>. The ΕΟs were obtained by hydrodistillation and were analysed by GC–MS, resulting in the identification of 90 components across the three samples. In total, 35 compounds were detected in <i>S. horvaticii</i>, representing relative percentage of 90.3% of the total EO with geranyl-α-terpinene (27.5%) being the predominant component. Moreover, 42 constituents were found in <i>S. parolinii</i>, representing relative percentage of 92.7% of the EO, dominated by ar-abietatriene (33.2%). Concerning <i>S. leucoglossa</i> subsp. <i>leucoglossa</i>, 31 compounds were identified representing relative percentage of 91.7% of the total EO, among which the main constituent was (<i>E</i>)-phytol (21.7%). Diterpenes constituted the major fractions in all the investigated EOs. This is the first report on <i>S. parolinii</i> and <i>S. leucoglossa</i> subsp. <i>leucoglossa</i> EOs.