Origanum genus

The bicyclic monoterpenes cis-sabinene hydrate and cit-sabinene hydrate acetate are known as the major and original flavor compounds of marjoram Origanum majorand) Relatively large quantities of cis- and trans-sabinene hydrate were detected in the genus Origanum m-Sabinene hydrate acetate was found in relatively large amounts in solvent and CO2 extracts of O. and as a minor component in hydro-... 

More recently, it has been found that the presence of typical oregano-type cymyl compounds (y-terpinene, p-cymene, carvacrol, etc.) in different Origanum species is associated with the presence of a speci c variant of y-terpinene synthase gene (Lukas et al., 2010). Six different variants of this gene have been detected, which differ in the presence or absence of speci c patterns in intron 3 but not each of them is able to result in the accumulation of the mentioned characteristic compounds of the genus. 

Lukas, B., R. Samuel, and J. Novak. 2010. Oregano or marjoram The enzyme y terpinene synthase affects chemotype formation in the genus Origanum, 58 211-220. 

Baranska, M., Schulz, H., Kruger, H, and Quilitzsch, R. (2005) Chemo-taxonomy of aromatic plants of the genus Origanum via vibrational spectroscopy Anal. Bioanal Chem., 381 (6), 1241-1247. 

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