Essential oil composition of six Helichrysum species grown in Italy

Abstract Essential oils obtained from six species of Helichrysum ( H. archimedeum C. Brullo & Brullo, H. errerae Tineo, H. hyblaeum Brullo, H. orientale (L.) Vaill., H. panormitanum Tineo ex Guss. subsp. panormitanum, H. serotinum subsp. picardii (Boiss. & Reut.) Galbany, L. Saez & Benedi) grown in Italy were analyzed by GC-MS. One hundred seventeen components were identified representing 90.1–98.5% of the total chemical composition, mainly characterized by sesquiterpenes and monoterpene compounds. All the analyzed oils showed a monoterpene content ranging from 7.8% ( H. serotinum subsp. picardii ) to 50.9% ( H. errerae ), while sesquiterpene compounds ranging from 28.5% ( H. errerae ) to 77.9% ( H. archimedeum ). α-pinene (39.6% H. hyblaeum and 32.0% H. errerae , respectively), β-caryophyllene (23.8%, H. panormitanum subsp. panormitanum ), β-selinene (20.8%, H. archimedeum ) and β-eudesmol (19.1%, H. orientalis and 17.2% H. orientale , respectively) were the main constituents. This is the first report on the essential oil composition of H. archimedeum , H. errerae, H. hyblaeum , H. panormitanum subsp. panormitanum , H. serotinum subsp. picardii .