Chemical constituents and biological potential of essential oils of helichrysum italicum (roth) G. don from montenegro

Abstract

The chemical constituents of essential oils isolated from the Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don by steam-distillation were analyzed by GC-MS. The oils were predominantly composed of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons with 52.35%, with γ-curcumene as major constituent (14,11%), β-selinene (11,31%) and α-curcumene (10,42%). The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Results showed that the oils exhibited antibacterial activities and that Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus subtilis are very sensitive.