Two chemotypes ofCrithmum maritimum L. from Portugal

Essential oils were isolated from different parts of Crithmum maritimum L. at three stages of the life cycle (vegetative, flowering and fruiting) in the same population (central west Portuguese coast) and essential oils were also extracted from plants growing spontaneously in five parts of the Western coast of Portugal, at the three life cycle stages. GC and GC–MS analyses were carried out in order to determine the oil chemical composition. The major oil components were dillapiol, sabinene, γ-terpinene and thymol methyl ether. The higher phenological variations observed were in the components of the inflorescences essential oils. Gradual variations were found along the life-cycle stages in the oils from the aerial parts. The oil data obtained from the five populations were statistically processed and the results showed the presence of two possible chemotypes of C. maritimum with different dillapiol content.