Today evaluation work should be focusing on the genetic diversity of Origanum species with special regard to their antioxidant (Kizuzaki and Nakatani 1989 ; Lamaison et al. 1990, 1993; Lagouri et al. 1993) and antimicrobial (Deans and Svoboda 1990; Yadava...
More
Today evaluation work should be focusing on the genetic diversity of Origanum species with special regard to their antioxidant (Kizuzaki and Nakatani 1989 ; Lamaison et al. 1990, 1993; Lagouri et al. 1993) and antimicrobial (Deans and Svoboda 1990; Yadava and Saini 1991; Biondi et al. 1993) properties. In the event that these evaluation activities indicate the presence of a strong genetic basis for such desirable traits, breeding work could then be the right way to reach natural antioxidants or antimicrobial agents of high quality in the material we would like to improve . Methods Analytical and sensorial methods The most common analytical method used today for determining essential oil composition is gas chromatography (GC). The development of special techniques such as GC, coupled with an olfactorial test (use of a scent detector) (Fig. 1) for the examination of single compounds and head-space techniques (Fig. 2) for the analysis of the genuine oil, proved to be very useful (Bicchi a
Less
