VOLATILE OIL COMPOSITION OF CENTAUREA AUCHERI (DC.) WAGENITZ.

Centaurea aucheri (DC.) Wagenitz is one of the species of Asteraceae that has not been the subject ofmany investigations. Different species of this genus have been used in traditional medicine. In thisinvestigation C. aucheri was collected from Khanesorkh of Kerman and the essential oil of the aerial partsof plant was extracted by Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by GC-MS. Identification of the componentsof oils were based on their retention indices and mass spectra data in comparison with those reported inliteratures. The amount of essential oil was 0.16% and 22 substances consisting 80.03% of thecomposition of the essential oil were identified. The main compounds were caryophylleneoxide (19.44%), β-caryophyllene (14%), Geremacrene-D (13.38%). The essential oil was rich insesquiterpene oil.