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CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF HELICHRYSUM ITALICUM FROM MEDITERRANEAN COAST

ĐULIIJA HADŽIBETI 1, TANJA VOJINOVIĆ1*, MARKO NIKOLIĆ2, DRAGANA D. BOŽIĆ3, JELENA ANTIĆ STANKOVIĆ 3

1 University of Montenegro, Faculty of Medicine, Krusevac bb, 81 000 Podgorica, Montenegro
2 Center for Eco-Toxicological Research Podgorica, Bulevar Šarla De Gola 2, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
3 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

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Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been used in the analysis of the chemical characteristics of the essential oil of Helichrysum italicum, cultivated in Montenegro, complete with its antimicrobial activity, the evaluation of which has been done against 7 microorganisms, involving Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well. The evaluation led to thirty seven compounds being identified in the essential oil, with the following components: α-pinene (16.62%), γ-curcumene (14.06%), β-selinene (7.39%) and neryl acetate (6.04%). In addition, the importance of the following minor compounds found in the essential oil has been confirmed: β-caryophyllene (5.02%), bisabolane (4.28%), italicene (4.16%). The results of the antimicrobial activity tests have revealed that the essential oil of Helichrysum italicum, has rather strong antimicrobial activity, especially against Enterococcus faecalis (MIC is 0,008 mg/mL) and activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC is 0,016mg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC is 0,062 mg/mL). The MIC value according to Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella abony and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is greater than 4 mg/mL. Results have shown that the immortelle essential oil exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, and less against Gram-negative bacteria.