Chemical diversity of wild growing Origanum majorana in Cyprus.

The present work aims at tracing the essential-oil diversity of wild growing Origanum majorana plants in Cyprus. The study of six populations scattered over the western part of the island has shown that the essential oils were rich either in trans-sabinene hydrate/terpinen-4-ol or in α-terpineol/trans-sabinene hydrate. The former oil type is more common and responsible for the typical marjoram odor of the plants.