CHEMODIVERSITY OF HELICHRYSUM ITALICUM (ROTH) G. DON SUBSP. ITALICUM ESSENTIAL OILS FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

The chemical composition of essential oil samples isolated from immortelle (Helichrysum italicum (Roth.) G. Don. subsp. italicum) collected on ten locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina was determined by GC/MS analysis. The whole wild population growing on different altitudes and soil types is covered in flowering period, with the aim of determining chemotype of EOs. Each of the examined EOs was characterized by a high content of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (mean value 32.5 %), followed by oxigenated monoterpenes (20.9 %), monoterpene hydrocarbons (16.3 %), diketones (17.9 %), non-terpene esters (5.5 %) and oxigenated sesquiterpenes (5.0 %). The main compounds were gamma-curcumene (12.6 %), neryl acetate (11.5 %). alpha-pinene (10.7 %) and 4,6,9-trimethyldec-8-en-3.5-dione (7.9%). To compare the chemical variability of the immortelle EOs from B&H with the other Mediterranean areas, studied previously, multivariate statistical analysis was performed (PCA and CA). The essential oils from B&H in chemical composition are similar to those from the Adriatic region (Croatia and southeast Italy), and different from Tyrrhenian islands' oils. These EOs were distinguished by the content of gamma-and beta-curcumene, alpha-bergamotene and italicene. The essential oils isolated from B&H immortelle possess specific chemical composition which gives them high quality and geographic distinctiveness.'