The chemical composition of the flowers essential oil of Inula crithmoides (Asteraceae) growing in aeolian islands, Sicily (Italy) and its biocide properties on microorganisms affecting historical art crafts

Abstract

Essential oils have been used for a long time in several fields of interest. Recently, they have also been applied in the conservation of Cultural Heritage to contrast biodeterioration replacing the most current biocides toxic for humans and environment. Inula crithmoides L. (syn. Limbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort) is a halophyte species distributed along the Mediterranean coasts and it is used as an edible vegetable since the young leaves or shoots are eaten raw or cooked. Several biological properties have been determined for this plant including antimicrobial activities. In this study the volatile composition of the aerial part of an accession from the Aeolian Islands, Sicily (Italy) is described. Furthermore, the in vitro antibacterial assay against four species of bacteria isolated from a XX century Tholu Bhommalu, a leather painted puppet from Andhra Pradesh (India), was showed by the Agar disc diffusion method.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Inula crithmoides
• Asteraceae
• essential oils
• growth inhibition halos

Acknowledgements

Authors thanks the Director of ‘Museo Internazionale delle Marionette Antonio Pasqualino’, Palermo, Italy and Prof. Vincenzo Ilardi for identification of Inula crithmoides samples.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grant from MIUR-ITALY PRIN 2017 (Project N. 2017A95NCJ).