Variability in Crithmum maritimum L. Essential Oils’ Chemical Composition: PCA Analysis, Food Safety, and Sustainability

Abstract

In this study, four accessions of Crithmum maritimum L., not previously studied, collected in Isola delle Femmine (Italy) (S43), Croatia (S44), Montenegro (S45), and Israel (S46) were investigated. The volatile profile of essential oils was evaluated using GC–MS and 38 compounds were identified. All the analyzed samples show a composition characterized essentially by monoterpene hydrocarbons (94.0–97.6%), with limonene, γ-terpinene, β-phellandrene, α-pinene, and p-cymene as the principal compounds. In addition, a comprehensive review of the composition of C. maritimum essential oils that have been studied thus far was conducted. To evaluate the similarity between samples, principal component analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were utilized. To evaluate the possibility of addressing food value to natural species that can strengthen sustainable food policies, it appears necessary to consider the previous safety of the dietary intake of C. maritimum. A matrix plot analysis of the content of dillapiole, a toxic constituent, in the samples was performed. The results of the statistical analysis show the presence of six clusters indicating some differences between C. maritimum accessions from different locations. Regarding dillapiole content, the four accessions discussed in this paper showed dillapiole values of less than 2%, suggesting the healthiness of sea fennel from these locations, while the highest values were found in samples from France, Portugal, and Tunisia.