Analysis of the essential oils of two Thymus species from Iran

The essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Thymus daenensis subsp. daenensis and Thymus kotschyanus were analyzed by using GC and GC/MS. Twenty six compounds representing 99.7% of T. daenensis subsp. daenensis oil were identified. The main ones were thymol (74.7%), p-cymene (6.5%), β-caryophyllene (3.8%) and methyl carvacrol (3.6%). Thirty one components accounting for 98.7% of T. kotschyanus oil were identified. The major constituents were thymol (38.6%), carvacrol (33.9%), γ-terpinene (8.2%) and p-cymene (7.3%). Both oils were found to be rich in monoterpene phenols, especially thymol and carvacrol.