Genus Hyssopus L. – recent knowledge: A review

Abstract

The genus Hyssopus L. – the hyssop is a source of volatile oil whose constituents are sesquiterpene alcohols, many terpene carbonyl compounds and some acids. As documented by the cited data, volatile oil composition depends not only on the species but also on the variety, date of drug harvest and many external factors including the quality of plant nutrition. The paper summarizes the knowledge of literary sources published over ca. the last twenty years that dealt with the hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.); the aim is to stimulate the search for other possibilities of application of hyssop volatile oil in ecological agriculture and alternative or official medicine.