Composition of the essential oils from leafy parts of the shoots, flowers and fruits of Eryngium amethystinum from Amiata Mount (Tuscany, Italy)

The essential oils obtained from the leafy parts of the shoots, inflorescences and fruits of Eryngium amethystinum (Apiaceae) from Italy have been studied. The essential oil from the inflorescences was characterised by methyl-derivatives of benzaldehyde (26.4%) and by some phenylpropanoids (3.0%) such as eugenol and (E)-methyl isoeugenol. The essential oil of leafy parts of the shoots showed a higher percentage of sesquiterpenes (31.3%) than monoterpenes (20.2%). The main differences between the two essential oils can be referred to alpha-pinene and germacrene D: the essential oil of the inflorescences contained much more alpha-pinene than the other one (25.6% vs. 11.8%), while the contrary is true for germacrene D (14.5% vs. 31.3%). (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.