Essential oil composition of sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum) form Turkey.

Constituents of essential oils of sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) collected in different localities of Turkey in 1997 and 1998 have been identified by GC/MS. The effects of collection time and locality on the oil content and composition have been studied. The samples were classified into groups according to the main components: sabinene, gamma-terpiene, methyl thymol and terpinen-4-ol; gamma-terpinene, dill apiol and sabinene; gamma-terpiene, methyl thymol and limonene; p-cymene, methyl thymol and gamma-terpinen. (Z)-beta-ocimene and spathulenol were found with high percentage values in some samples. cis-p-Menth-4-en-1,2-diol was identified in only one oil. Early collected plants yielded oil rich in p-cymene. Effect of freezing plant did not have any important effect in oil composition.