Abstract
In the current investigation, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) spontaneously emitted from the different organs of Inula viscosa growing wild in Jordan were extracted by Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) method and then analyzed using GC-MS technique. Oxygenated monoterpenes dominated roots emission (52.39%) while sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the main class of compounds detected in the emission of the stems (60.05%). Leaves emission was characterized with high monoterpenoids content (oxygenated 24.34%, hydrocarbons 30.06%). The emission of the fully expanded flowers and flowering organs (receptacles, petals and pistils) was rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (51.96%, 46.94%, 45.45% and 53.13%, respectively). Flowering buds at the pre-flowering stage were rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenoids (40.02%). Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) analysis revealed that the emission profiles of different I. viscosa organs were classified into three clusters based on their chemical composition. In addition, the hydrodistilled essential oils obtained from the fresh leaves, pre-flowering buds and fully expanded flowers were dominated by oxygenated sesquiterpenoids (69.63, 92.75 and 76.70%, respectively).