Effect of Ontogenetic Variability on Essential Oil Content and Its Components in Sage (Salvia officinalis L.)

This experiment was carried out in Eski？ehir ecological conditions in 2015. In the study, the plants were harvested at different four growth stages (pre-flowering, beginning of flowering, full flowering and seed formation stages) with three replications. After leaf samples were dried in the drying-oven (at 35 oC), the essential oil contents were determined by hydro-distillation and its compositions were analyzed by GC/MS. The results indicated that essential oil contents were significantly influenced by different growth stages. Essential oil contents in drug leaf samples were ranged from 1.0% to 2.0%. The maximum essential oil content (2.0%) was obtained in plants harvested during before flowering stage, while the minimum oil contents (1.0%) were detected in the plants harvested at full flowering and seed formation stages. On the other hand, α-thujone and camphor were detected as the main components at all growth stages. The maximum α-thujone content (47.24%) was obtained from full flowering stage, while the minimum rate (23.09%) belonged to the beginning of flowering stage. So, it is recommended that in Eski？ehir conditions, Salvia officinalis should be harvested in pre-flowering stage in terms of the highest essential oil and the lowest α-thujone content