Characterization of Artemisia arborescens L. (Asteraceae) leaf-derived essential oil from Southern Italy

Leaf-derived essential oils isolated from Artemisia arborescens L. (Asteraceae) were analyzed by using GC/MS and GC-FID (for compound quantification); a total of 82 components were determined. The oils were derived from plants collected at the vegetative stage and originating from three locations in southern parts of Italy: Calabria, Sicily and the island of Lipari (Eolian Islands). In general, the chemical compositions were rather similar with some major differences regarding, in particular, the amounts of oxygenated compounds, such as camphor, chamazulene and α- and β-thujones. The research work was extended to the determination of a series of chiral compounds, as also the olfactive analysis of the aroma-active compounds, with the aim of acquiring an enlargened view on this specific sample-type.