The chemical composition of the aerial parts essential oil of Achillea cretica L. (Asteraceae) growing wild in Crete (Greece)

Abstract

Achillea cretica (L.) (Asteraceae) is a suffruticosa camefite plant, mainly distributed in Crete, Aegean Islands, and eastern Mediterranean area. In the present study, the chemical composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of a not previously investigated accession of Achillea cretica, collected in Crete, was analysed by GC-MS. The results showed the presence of large quantity of α-bisabolol (53.88%) followed by the related compound α-bisabolol-oxide (2.76%), and spathulenol (5.94%). Based on the composition of the essential oils of all the other Achillea taxa, several consideration have been carried out.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Achillea cretica
• Asteraceae
• essential oil
• sesquiterpenes
• α-bisabolol

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.