Intraspecific variability in essential oil constituents from roots to fruits of Ferula vesceritensis Coss. & Dur., an endemic Algerian plant

This study investigates, for the first time, the intraspecific variation in essential oil composition among different organs of Ferula vesceritensis from the Algerian Sahara. Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The chemical composition of the oils varied markedly among the plant organs and differed from previously reported profiles. The root oil was mainly characterised by the presence of (E)-nerolidol (34.90%), undecane (13.13%), and viridiflorol (7.53%). In the stems, aristolene (64.98%) and β-gurjunene (11.13%) were identified as the predominant constituents. The leaf oil was dominated by shyobunol (33.68%), followed by germacrene-D-4-ol (7.86%), aristolene (7.53%), and α-cadinol (7.21%). Similarly, the flower oil was primarily composed of shyobunol (34.05%), aristolene (9.43%), germacrene-D-4-ol (7.51%), and δ-cadinene (7.01%). In contrast, the fruit oil showed a distinct profile, with α-pinene (35.14%), aristolene (11.87%), and himachalol (8.15%) as the major compounds. Overall, the pronounced organ-specific phytochemical variability observed in the essential oils of this plant emphasizes the species as a promising source of chemically distinct essential oils. This phytochemical diversity provides a valuable ground for future surveys investigating the relationship between chemical composition and biological activities, as well as potential pharmacological and industrial applications.