Volatile components of Artemisia monosperma and Artemisia judaica growing in the Egyptian deserts

Volatile components of Artemisia monosperma and of Artemisia judaica obtained by steam distillation of the fresh plants were analysed by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Volatile oil of A. monosperma was found to be made up primarily of highly unsaturated hydrocarbons and aromatic acetylenic compounds with 3-methyl-3-phenyl-1,4-pentadiyne being the major component. Volatile oil of A. judaica, on the other hand, was found to be a mixture of esters, ketones and aldehydes in which pipertone is the major component.