Chemical composition of the essential oils of Artemisia species from Iran: a comparative study using multivariate statistical analysis

Essential oils (EOs) of eight Artemisia specieswere analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC-FID) at vegetative, budding and flowering stages. Regarding the cluster analysis and principal component analysis, group A of cluster analysis (A. campestris) was highly correlated with Methyleugenol and Acenaphthylene and group B of cluster analysis (A. spicigeria, A. sieberi, A. annua, A. vulgaris and A. diffusa(were highly correlated with 1,8-cineole and Camphor. Also group C of cluster analysis (A. absinthium and A. scoparia) were highly correlated with beta-Pinene. Methanol crude extracts of leaves of Artemisia species were obtained at vegetative stage. Antioxidant activities by DPPH and Reducing Power (RP) methods, flavonoid and flavonol contents by aluminum chloride (AlCl3) and total phenols by Folin-ciocalteu assay were measured. The greatest amount of antioxidant activity, TP, TF and TFl were found in A. scoparia and the lowest in A. vulgaris.