Phytochemical analysis of the essential oils of Lithuanian H. arenarium

Researchers at the State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology in Lithuania analyzed the chemical composition of essential oils obtained from the inflorescences and leaves of local Helichrysum arenarium (dwarf everlast). Their findings were published in the Journal of Essential Oil Research.

• The phytochemical composition of essential oils from H. arenarium plants growing in Lithuanian forests and other countries was compared.
• Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, the researchers identified 56 compounds in H. arenarium essential oils that made up 80.1 to 98.8 percent of the total oil content.
• The main fractions were composed of sesquiterpenes (29 to 70.1 percent), aliphatic hydrocarbons (7.7 to 45.5 percent) and oxygenated monoterpenes (2 to 13.9 percent).
• Among the terpenoids, the main constituents of H. arenarium essential oils were:
  • 1,8-cineole, 8.9 percent (one sample)
  • B-caryophyllene, 5.8 to 36.2 percent (14 oils)
  • y-Cadinene, 5.8 percent
  • d-Cadinene, 9 percent
• H. arenarium essential oils also contained appreciable amounts of aliphatic hydrocarbons, mainly octadecane and heneicosane. These likely came from the epicuticular waxes of the plant.
• The oils’ octadecane content was found to be 7.1 to 22.3 percent, while heneicosane content varied from 7.9 to 20 percent.

Based on comparative analyses, the researchers concluded that the essential oils from Lithuanian H. arenarium greatly differ from H. arenarium oils from other countries in terms of phytochemical content.

Journal Reference:

Judzentiene A, Charkova T, Misiunas A. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS FROM HELICHRYSUM ARENARIUM (L.) PLANTS GROWING IN LITHUANIAN FORESTS. Journal of Essential Oil Research. 06 February 2019;31(4):305–311. DOI: 10.1080/10412905.2019.1572550