BIOTECHNOLOGICAL VALORIZATION OF AROMATIC PLANTS IN MOROCCO: IMPACT OF EXTRACTION METHODS ON THE YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF Origanum compactum BENTH. OF TAOUNATE (NORTHERN MOROCCO)

Origanum compactum benth. Native to the Mediterranean basin (Oregano) is a perennial plant, with pubescent stems covered with long hairs; oval-ovate stem leaves its essential oils used worldwide for its aromatic and medicinal virtues, it is considered among the classic products of Morocco in the international market and an important source of Income for the local population of Taounate (Northern Morocco).

However, the exploitation of this resource remains primitive and the managers of the valorization units miss scientific information and indicators to understand how the yield and chemical composition of oregano varies according to the extraction material.

In order to contribute to the biotechnological valorization of oregano, microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAH) and clevenger-assisted hydro distillation (CH) were compared and evaluated for the extraction time, extraction yield, chemical composition and quality of the essential oil. Essential oil extraction of Origanum compactum benth. with MAH and CH are similar in terms of extraction time (60 min), for yield (5.83±0.25 versus 4.47±0.21%), the effect of extraction by MAH remains positive also for the majority compounds of the essential oil, Tymol (79.01 versus 73%), Carvacrol (15.08 versus 12.66%) and Ethyl linolenate (0.91 versus 0.33%).