Essential Oils of Anatolian Apiaceae -­A Profile

Abstract

The  family  Apiaceae  is  represented  in  Turkey  by  101  genera  belonging  to  485  species  included  in  511  taxa

comprising 181 endemics, 7 genera being monotypic. The ratio of species endemism in the family is 37.3 %.  

We have screened the literature for Apiaceae taxa studied for their essential oils and compiled the data in order to get a clear aromatic profile of the family. It has become obvious that our group has been very active in this matter.  We  have  so  far  investigated  taxa  belonging  to  58  genera  including  the  monotypic  genera  Ekimia bornmuelleri, Olymposciadium caespitosum and published on their essential oil yields and compositions.

Apiaceae  is  an  interesting  family  comprising  many  aromatic  taxa  including  commercialized  Herbas  and  spices

such as anis, fennel, cumin, caraway, coriander, chervil, parsley, carrot, asa foetida, galbanum, etc. Some are rich in essential  oils.  The most  interesting  feature  of the family  is that  many  of its members  have  high  chemical diversity containing different aromatic chemicals in different organs. Therefore, it is advisable to study all parts (e.g.,  fruit,  flower,  stem,  leaf and root)  of an Apiaceae  plant  separately  in order  to get a complete  chemical profile of that taxon.