In this study, chemotaxonomical relationships between two species (Centaurea balsamita and C. Behen) belongs
to the genus Centaurea were investigated. The essential oil yields of these species were found as 0.4 and 0.3% v/w,
respectively. The essential oils were analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
A total of sixty three components have been identified constituting 90.6% and 87.5% of the oil, respectively. Butanoic
acid (16.3%), spathulenol (15.5%), α-terpinolene (10.2%) and caryophyllene oxide (4.6%) were detected main
compounds of C. balsamita, however caryophyllene oxide (15.9%), spathulenol (11.4%), germacrene D (6.6%) and
allo-aromadendrene (6.1%) were detected major constituents of C. behen. The compositions of the oils were subjected
to a hierarchical cluster analysis by application of the SPSS, with a view to test their use in chemotaxonomy.
