Comparison between the essential oils of Santolina insularis (Genn. ex Fiori) Arrigoni and Santolina corsica Jord. et Fourr. from the island of Sardinia (Italy).

A comparative study of the essential oils of Santolina insularis and Santolina corsica has been carried out. The two specimens are found in Sardinia and were indiscriminately used in traditional medicine on the island. The essential oil was extracted by steam distillation of fresh aerial parts and analysed by GC, GC-MS and GC-FTIR. The analysis of the essential oils shows substantial qualitative and quantitative differences. Some of the components identified were present in both investigated species, others were characteristic of one species only.