Carvacrol maijoram

The occurrence of several chemotypes is reported, for example, for commercially used Origanum species, from Turkey (Baser, 2002). In 0. onites, two chemotypes are described, a carvacrol type and a linalool type. Additionally, a mixed type with both basic types mixed may occur. In Turkey, two chemotypes of Origanum majorana are known, one contains c -sabinene hydrate as chemo-typical lead compound and is used as maijoram in cooking ( marjoramy ), while the other one contains carvacrol in high amounts and is used to distil oregano oil in a commercial scale. Variability of chemotypes continues also within the marjoramy O. majorana. Novak et al. (2002) detected in cultivated marjoram accessions additionally to cts-sabinene hydrate the occurrence of polymorphism of c -sabinene hydrate acetate. Since this chemotype did not influence the sensorial impression much, this chemotype was not eliminated in breeding, while an off-flavor chemotype would have been certainly eliminated in its cultivation history. In natural populations of 0. majorana from Cyprus besides the classical di-sabinene hydrate type, a chemotype with a-terpineol as... 

Pot maijoram is reported to contain 1.4-2.4% volatile oil, consisting mainly of carvacrol, linalool, and thymol (list and horhammer). a Turkish variety was recently reported to contain carvacrol, thymol,/i-cym-ene, and y-terpinene as the major constituents. Fatty acids (e.g., linolenic, linoleic, and oleic) and tochopherols (a-, P-, y- and 8-) are also present with y-tochopherol being the major homologue. ... 

---