Volatile components from flowers of Centaurea nicaeensis All., C. parlatoris Helder, C. solstitialis L., ssp. schouwii (DC.) Dostàl wild growing in Sicily and their biological activity

The volatile constituents of the flowerheads of Centaurea nicaeensis All., C. parlatoris Helder and C. solstitialis L. ssp. schouwii (DC.) Dostal were extracted by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC-MS. Altogether 113 components were identified. Fatty acids and hydrocarbons were the most abundant components in the oils. Caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide were the main compounds of the sesquiterpene fraction. The study on the biological activity of the oils shows no significant activity.