Corsica vs Balkan immortelle essential oil - comparison of chemical profiles

Abstract

Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don., (Asteraceae) commonly known as immortelle, everlasting or curry plant is a typical Mediterranean plant, which grows spontaneously and as cultivated in the region of West Mediterranean countries (Portugal, Italy, and France), and region of Balkan-Mediterranean countries (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia). This geographical division caused a difference in the quality of immortelle essential oil, which is present on the market under the INCI name: Helichrysum italicum flower oil (CAS number: 90045-56-0, EINECS number 289-918-2). Although this oil is in great demand on the international market, there is still no official standard that determines its quality. However, there is a valuation into two types of oil - Corsica us Balkan immortelle essential oil, determined by quantity of main compounds: neryl acetate and apinene. The aim of this research was to collect publicly available GC-MS profiles of commercially offered immortelle essential oils (provided by manufacturers or companies engaged in the trade of essential oils), in order to estimate the market situation. The results showed that the offer on the market of immortelle essential oil indicates the existence of two types of oil Corsica (with 29.8-44.0% neryl acetate, and 0.6-10.2% o-pinene) and Balkan (with 1.9-28.3% neryl acetate and 12.8-29.4% o-pinene), which overlaps with the statements of traders and scientists.

Helichrisum italicum (Roth) G. Don., (Asteraceae), poznata kao smilje, tipična je mediteranska biljka, koja spontano raste i uzgaja se u regionu zapadnomediteranskih (Portugal, Italija, Francuska) i balkansko-mediteranskih zemalja (Hrvatska, Bosna i Hercegovina, Srbija). Ova geografska podela uslovila je razliku u kvalitetu etarskog ulja smilja, koje je na tržištu prisutno pod INCI nazivorn: cvetno ulje Helichrisum italicum (CAS broj: 90045-56-0, EINECS broj 289-918-2). lako je ovo ulje veoma traženo na međunarodnom tržištu, još uvek ne postoji zvanični standard koji određuje njegov kvalitet. Međutim, postoji podela na dve vrste etarskog ulja smilja- ‘Korzika’ i ‘Balkan’, na osnovu količine jedinjenja: neril acetata i o-pinena. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je prikupljanje javno dostupnih GC-MS profila komercijalnih eteričnih ulja smilja (koju obezbeđuju proizvođači ili kompanije koje se bave prometom eteričnih ulja), kako bi se procenila situacija na tržištu.