Contribution to the Analysis of the Essential Oil of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don. – Determination of Ester Bonded Acids and Phenols

The essential oil of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (everlasting or Immortelle essential oil) was isolated by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC-MS. Forty four compounds were identified. The main components were α-pinene (12.8%), 2-methyl-cyclohexyl pentanoate (11.1 %), neryl acetate (10.4%), 1,7-di-epi-α-cedrene (6.8%) and other compounds. The oil was fractionated and ester-containing fraction was hydrolysed with KOH/H2SO4. The liberated volatiles were analysed by GC and GC-MS: three phenols and twenty seven volatile carboxylic acids were identified [70% low fatty acids (C2-C5), 15% C10-C12 acids and 15% other acids]. The main acids were acetic acid (24.3%) propanoic acid (17.2%), 2-methylpropanoic acid (11.4%), dodecanoic acid (8.7%), 2-methylbutanoic acid (8.3%), (Z)-2-methylbutenoic acid (5.1%) and decanoic acid (4.6%). With respect to the identified bonded carboxylic acids, the minimal number of esters in the oil was twenty seven, but their overall quantity was probably larger due to different possible combinations of alcohols with acids to form esters. On the other hand, only six main esters were identified in the oil before fractionation and hydrolysis.


Introduction
The genus Helichrysum, belonging to the family of Asteraceae, consists of a few hundred species, widespread throughout the world. Their flowers, commonly known as gold-everlasting or eternal flowers, were used in antiquity to make the wreaths to crown idols. Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (everlasting) is a typical Mediterranean plant. It is widespread along the east coast and on the islands of the Adriatic Sea. It is a dwarf aromatic shrub with yellow flowers, up to 50-70 cm high, growing on dry cliffs and sandy soil. Everlasting is used in traditional medicine due to its antiinflammatory [1][2][3], antibacterial [4][5][6][7] and antioxidant [8,9] properties. The everlasting flower heads contain essential oil that is very sought out by the perfume industry and aromatherapy. The chemical composition of H. italicum essential oil of Greek origin has been investigated [10][11][12]. The chemical composition of the everlasting essential oils from Greece and Croatia are quite different. Oil from Croatia is similar to the oil of Italian origin [13] and its chemical composition varies in relation to the geographic origin and vegetation cycle [14,15]. Seasonal and locality variations of everlasting oil from Croatia were investigated in the past [16]. The main components of this essential oil were αpinene, neryl acetate, α-cedrene, nerol, α-curcumene, γ-curcumene and geranyl acetate. Essential oils of many plants mainly contain esters of low fatty acids, often acetate, rarely propanoate, butanoate and others. Our earlier study [5] showed the large complexity of everlasting oil chemical composition, with numerous monoterpene, sesquiterpene and nonterpene compounds (hydrocarbons, alcohols, carbonyls, esters, ethers and phenols). The analysis was unreliable, especially in the area of esters, due to numerous peak overlaps in the chromatograms, leading to insufficient separation and identification. According to our early findings, everlasting oil contains numerous ester bonded acids. The aim of this study was to detail investigate ester bounded volatile acids and phenols of everlasting essential oil and their quantitative ratio. For this purpose, the ester-containing oil fraction was hydrolysed, and the liberated volatile acids were isolated and identified by GC and GC-MS.

Ester-bonded acids and phenols of everlasting essential oil
After neutralisation, the everlasting essential oil was fractionated and the esters-containing fraction was obtained. This fraction was hydrolysed with KOH/H 2 SO 4. The liberated free acidic compounds were analysed by GC and GC-MS (Table 2). Thirty compounds were identified including three phenols and twenty seven carboxylic acids. Phenols (thymol, eugenol and 3-isopropylphenol) were present with overall percentage of 1.3%. This table also shows percentages of acids as mole fractions (for better comparison). The mole fractions were calculated from the mass fractions and molecular weight of each acid.  According to these results twenty seven acids were ester bonded. However, Table 1 only contains seven identified esters (acetate, propionate, pentanoate, octanoate, tiglate and phthalate). Therefore, many esters, particular those in small quantities, were overlapped mutually and/or with other compounds and could not be identified due to insufficient chromatographic separation and impure mass spectra. On the other hand, the main identified ester bonded acids (after the hydrolysis) were (mole fractions): acetic acid (24.3%), propanoic acid (17.2%), 2-methylpropanoic acid (11.4%), dodecanoic acid (8.7%), 2-methylbutanoic acid (8.3%), (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid (5.1%) and decanoic acid (4.6%). Pentanoic acid was not identified among acids in Table 2, and consequently 2methylcyclohexyl pentanoate was tentatively identified in Table 1. Low fatty acids (C 2 -C 5 ) comprised 70% in the ester fraction, while C 10 -C 12 acids were present in 15% and ca. 15% of other acids were found. According to the identified bonded acids and eleven free alcohols found in the oil, the minimal number of esters in the oil were twenty seven, but their overall quantity was probably larger, due to different possible combinations of alcohols with acids to form esters. Consequently, the ester fraction of this essential oil was very complex. Furthermore under hydrodistillation conditions (pH, high temperature and long hydrodistillation time) artefacts could be produced. Esters of high fatty acids and high alcohols are usually semi-volatile compounds that belong to plant waxes and appear in low concentrations in essential oils.

Conclusions
The essential oil of Helichrysum italicum of Croatian origin exhibits a complex chemical composition, particularly with regards to esters. Thirty compounds were identified after ester hydrolysis (three phenols and twenty seven carboxylic acids). The main identified carboxylic acids (expressed in mole fractions) were acetic, propanoic, isobutyric, isovaleric, dodecanoic and decanoic acid, respectively, followed by C 10 -C 12 acids and other acids. According to the identified bonded acids, the minimal number of esters present in the oil was twenty seven. Their real number is probably higher considering number of alcohols and their possible mutual combinations with acids to form esters. On the other hand, in the same oil, only seven main esters were identified. Therefore, it can be concluded that many esters present in small quantities were overlapped. They could not be identified in the oil before fractionation and hydrolysis due to their insufficient chromatographic separation and doubtful identification.

Chemicals
All of the chemicals used were of high purity and were purchased from Fluka Chemie, Buch Switzerland.

Hydrodistillation of the essential oil
Plant material (150 g) and water (750 mL) were placed in a Clevenger type apparatus. The essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation for three hours. Obtained essential oil was separated, dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and stored under argon in a sealed vial, at 4 o C until required for analysis and fractionation.

Neutralisation and fractionation of the essential oil
The essential oil (0.5 g) obtained by hydrodistillation, was neutralised by aqueous NaHCO 3 solution. The oil was dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and fractionated on a silica gel column (15 g; 30-60 μm). Two fractions were obtained. Pentane (100 mL) was used for the elution of apolar compounds (mono and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons), while diethyl ether (80 mL) was used for the elution of oxygen-containing compounds (terpenoids). Separation was monitored by thin layer chromatography using Kieselgel 60 aluminium-backed sheets (Merck) and by GC-MS. Fraction of apolar compounds (hydrocarbon fraction) was rejected, and diethyl ether fraction was concentrated by careful fractional distillation under diminished pressure.

Hydrolysis of esters
The oxygen-containing fraction (diethyl ether fraction) that contained all the esters was hydrolysed with a solution of KOH in ethyl alcohol (10 mL ethyl alcohol and 1 g KOH) for 48 hours at room temperature. After hydrolysis, larger part of ethyl alcohol was removed in a rotatory evaporator under diminished pressure (t = 30 o C). The obtained residue was dissolved in water (30 mL) and the mixture was extracted with petroleum ether-diethyl ether (5 x 20 mL, 1:1, v/v). Potassium salts of the acids and phenols remained in the water layer. Free acids and phenols were isolated by extraction with diethyl ether (7 x 10 mL) after acidification of the water solution with sulphuric acid (pH 1). Combined ether extracts were dried and concentrated to 4 mL by removing the ether. This solution was used for GC and GC-MS analyses of bonded acids and phenols.

Gas chromatography (GC-FID)
Gas chromatography analysis was performed on a Hewlett-Packard 5890 Series II gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionisation detector using a HP-20M capillary column (Hewlett Packard, Carbowax 20M, 50 m x 0.2 mm i.d., film thickness 0.2 μm). Chromatographic conditions were as follows: helium as carrier gas at 1.0 mL/min; injector and detector temperatures, 250 o C and 300 o C. Oven temperature was isothermal at 70 o C for 4 min, then increased to 180 o C, at a rate of 4 o C/min and held isothermal for 15 min. Volume injected 1 μl. Split ratio 1:50.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
The essential oil as well as the fraction of bonded acidic compounds (phenols and acids) were also analysed by Hewlett Packard GC-MS (model 5890 series II) with mass selective detector (model 5971A). Two columns of different polarity were used: a HP-101 column (methyl silicone fluid, Hewlett Packard; 25 m x 0.2 mm i.d., film thickness 0.2 μm) and a HP-20M column (Carbowax 20M, Hewlett Packard; 50 m x 0.2 mm i.d., film thickness 0.2 μm). GC operating conditions were similar as in our previous paper [17]. Oven temperature was programmed as follows: isothermal at 70 o C for 4 min, then increased to 180 o C, at a rate of 4 o C min -1 and subsequently held isothermal for 15 min (for HP-20M column); isothermal at 70 o C for 2 min, then increased to 200 o C, at a rate of 3 o C min -1 and held isothermal for 15 min (for HP-101 column). Carrier gas was helium, flow rate: 1 mL min -1 ; injector temperature: 250 o C; volume injected: 1 μL; split ratio: 1:50. MS conditions: ionisation voltage: 70 eV; ion source temperature: 280 o C; mass range: 30-300 mass units.