Diversity and ecological determinants of essential oil composition of Achillea millefolium from various geobotanical areas of Samarkand, Uzbekistan

MOHIGUL ISTAMKULOVA (Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov. University Boulevard 15, 140104 Samarkand, Uzbekistan)
KHUDOYOR KELDIYAROV (Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov. University Boulevard 15, 140104 Samarkand, Uzbekistan)
ASADULLO DAMINOV (Samarkand State University of Veterinary Medicine, Livestock and Biotechnologies. Mirzo Ulugbek St. 77, 140103 Samarkand, Uzbekistan)
NURALI MUKHAMADIEV (Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov. University Boulevard 15, 140104 Samarkand, Uzbekistan)
GAVHAR DUSHANOVA (Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov. University Boulevard 15, 140104 Samarkand, Uzbekistan)
DAVRON KHAYITOV (Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov. University Boulevard 15, 140104 Samarkand, Uzbekistan)
YUNUS RUZIEV (Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov. University Boulevard 15, 140104 Samarkand, Uzbekistan)
ISKANDAR RAYIMQULOV (Samarkand State University of Veterinary Medicine, Livestock and Biotechnologies. Mirzo Ulugbek St. 77, 140103 Samarkand, Uzbekistan)
ROKHILA JURAEVA (Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Tashkent, Shaykhantakhur District, 7 B100128, Uzbekistan)
UMIDA NORBOYEVA (Department of Ecology and Geography, Bukhara State University. Mukhammad Iqbol St. 11, 705018 Bukhara, Uzbekistan)

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Vol. 26 No. 7 (2025)

Abstract. Istamkulova M, Keldiyarov K, Daminov A, Mukhamadiev N, Dushanova G, Khayitov D, Ruziev Y, Rayimqulov I, Jurayeva R, Norboyeva U. 2025. Diversity and ecological determinants of essential oil composition of Achillea millefolium from various geobotanical areas of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Biodiversitas 26: 3343-3355. Achillea millefolium is a well-known medicinal plant, widely distributed in Asia, Europe and North America. It is extensively used in traditional medicine and is valued for its broad spectrum of therapeutic properties. One of the key elements of its pharmacological value is its essential oil, which exhibits antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, and other properties. This study explores the variation in the chemical composition of essential oils extracted from A. millefolium flowers collected in four distinct geobotanical areas of the Samarkand region, Uzbekistan: Amonkutan, Korabulok, Ilonsoy and Sazagan. Essential oils were obtained using the hydrodistillation method and their compositions were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results revealed significant qualitative and quantitative differences in essential oil compositions, primarily influenced by environmental factors. Essential oil variation reflects ecotypic local adaptation, highlighting its relevance for biodiversity and conservation efforts. These findings emphasize the influence of environmental factors such as altitude, precipitation, and soil pH on the chemotypic variability of A. millefolium. A total of 48 compounds were identified, with region-specific dominance: Ascaridole (20.43%) in Sazagan, Terpinolene (20.06%) in Amonkutan, m-Cymene (21.05%) in Korabulok, Camphor (2.86%) and 2-Carene (26.33%) in Ilonsoy. These constituents appear to play key roles in plant adaptation to local stress conditions. The identified relationships between environmental factors and the composition of plant essential oils enable the differentiation of chemotypes based on geographic characteristics and provide a basis for developing recommendations on optimal cultivation conditions, selective cultivation programs and standardization of raw materials for pharmacological applications.