Volatile composition of Helichrysum arenarium field accessions with differently coloured inflorescences

Abstract

The composition of essential oils obtained from six colour inflorescences of Helichrysum arenarium field accessions was analysed by GC and GC–MS. A total of 68 compounds were identified. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were shown to be the main group of constituents in all samplesand to account for 20.6–41.2% of total essential oil. The rather small monoterpene fraction (6.7–14.8%) consisted mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes (5.5–13.6%). On the basis of the major constituents, four chemical profiles of essential oils were distinguished. Trans-caryophyllene, δ-cadinene, and heneicosane were prevalent in essential oils from citric-yellow, orange and brown-orange inflorescences. The composition of essential oils from citric inflorescences differed by the third major constituent – 1,8-cineole. Oils from yellow inflorescences contained tetradecanoic acid, whereas nonadecane was the major constituent of oils from yellow-brown inflorescences. Chemical analysis of essential oils revealed a chemical variability that was more or less reflected in the morphological variability exposed by the colour of inflorescences. Keywords: Helichrysum arenarium, essential oil composition, GC-MS, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons