Chemical and antibacterial studies of two Helichrysum species of Greek origin.

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Helichrysum stoechas ssp. barrelieri and H. taenari was analysed by GC and GC/MS. From the thirty-nine identified constituents representing the 73.87% and 87.41% of the two oils, respectively, beta-elemene, beta-caryophyllene, geraniol, and camphene were the major components. Furthermore, it was found that the oils exhibited significant antibacterial activity against six Gram (+/-) bacteria.