Chemical Composition Variability of the Herb Essential Oil in the Ontogenesis of Artemisia campestris subsp. campestris.

The essential oil from the herb of Artemisia campestris L. subsp. campestris harvested at five ontogenesis phases was analyzed by GC, GC/MS and H-1 NMR spectroscopy. More than 130 compounds were identified. Terpene hydrocarbons dominated in the oil. Germacrene D (20.3-30.1%), beta-pinene (3.7-15.4%) and gamma-humulene (6.6-9.8%) were the main constituents. The contents of germacrene D and gamma-humulene decreased from the phase before bud formation to the beginning of flowering, then increased until the post-flowering phase. The content of beta-pinene at the same periods firstly increased, and then was reduced.