Phytochemical screening of Helichrysum italicum plants grown in the foothill zone of Crimea

Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don) is a valuable and promising plant for the perfumery, cosmetics, food industry, pharmacy and medicine. The aim of the study is to conduct phytochemical screening of Helichrysum italicum plants grown in the foothills of Crimea for the content of essential oil and other types of biologically (BAS) active substances by vegetation phases and plant organs. The objects of study are freshly harvested and air-dried raw materials of H. italicum (selection sample EOA-81). The methods of research are generally accepted. The studies revealed variability in the content of BAS by vegetation phases and plant organs. It has been established that H. italicum plants synthesize a whole complex of biologically active substances during the vegetation period: essential oil – 0.50–1.49 % on an absolutely dry weight (a. d. m.); extractive substances – 22.47–36.79 %; total phenolic compounds – 2.25–6.26 %, phenolic carboxylic acids and flavonoids – 1.34–5.92 %; tannins – 0.24–1.34 %. It has been determined that the main oil-synthesizing organs of H. italicum are leaves and inflorescences. The greatest amount of essential oil was contained in the leaves – 2.01 %, and in the inflorescences – 1.73 %. The predominant components of the essential oil of H. italicum were monoterpene hydrocarbons, the sum of which reached a maximum in the phases of the beginning of budding - beginning of flowering 87.41–92.71 % with a predominance of α-pinene 69.93–76.17 %. This selection sample EOA-81, according to the component composition of the essential oil, belongs to the α-pinene chemotype. The optimal time for harvesting H. italicum raw materials for obtaining essential oil is the phase of complete budding, which is characterized by the highest content of essential oil of characteristic quality. The optimal time for harvesting H. italicum for obtaining medicinal raw materials is the phase of the end of budding, when the content of extractive substances; total phenolic compounds, the sum of phenol carbonic acids and flavonoids is maximum and the regrowth phase - for tannins. Based on the data obtained, the above-ground part of H. italicum plants can be recommended for use as essential oil and medicinal raw materials.

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