Composition of the Essential oils of Artemisia turanica Krasch., Helichrysum oocephalum Boiss. and Centaurea ispahanica Boiss. Three Asteraceae Herbs Growing Wild in Iran

Abstract Water-distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of Artemisia turanica Krasch., Helichrysum oocephalum Boiss. and from the flower of Centaurea ispahanica Boiss. of which the latter two are endemic to Iran, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Nineteen components of the oil of A. turanica were characterized, representing 90.6% of the total components detected. The major constituents were identified as 1.8-cineole (23.3%), chrysanthenone (21.3%) and davanone (19.3%). The oil of H. oocephalum was characterized by higher amount of β-caryophyllene (13.5%), menthone (10.8%), dodecane (9.1%) and menthol (8.9%) among the eighteen components comprising 95.6% of the total oil detected. Benzyl benzoate (26.5%), hexadecanoic acid (17.1%), benzyl salicylate (16.6%) and caryophyllene oxide (12.8%) were the main components among the thirteen constituents characterized in the flower oil of C. ispahanica representing 91.8% of the total components detected.