Phenolic Composition, Essential Oil, and Antioxidant Activity in the Aerial Part of Artemisia Herba-Alba from Several Provenances: A Comparative Study.

This study characterized the phenolic, aroma compositions, and antioxidant capacities of fourArtemisia herba albaaccessions collected from north and center regions in Tunisia in order to select valuable origin with optimal bioactive compounds production. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents varied between accessions with maxima contents observed in center regions. Kaempherol, apigenin, naringenin,p-coumaric,trans-cinnamic, and caffeic acids were the most abundant compounds with percentage varying depending on the considered accession. Significant changes on essential oil yields (0.4–1.2%) were found between accessions and three different oil chemotypes were distinguished: camphor, fenchol/α-thujone, and α-thujone/camphor. Cluster analysis of volatile and phenolic compositions grouped the accessions on different groups. Antioxidant activities of extracts were found to be higher than essential oils for the four provenances. The results suggested that the center regions have high potential for selecting varieties rich on essential oil, antioxidant phenolic acids, and flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]