Chemical and biological comparisons on supercritical extracts of Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevir) Sch. Bip. with three related species of chrysanthemums of Sardinia (Italy)

In this manuscript, the authors compare the chemical composition and the biological effects of extracts of some Sardinian plant species: Glebionis coronaria (L.) Spach [¼Chrysanthemum coronarium L.], locally known as ‘caragantzu’, Glebionis segetum (L.) Fourr. [¼Chrysanthemum segetum L.], known as ‘caragantzu masedu’, and Sardinian endemic species Plagius flosculosus (L.) Alavi and Heywood [¼Chrysanthemum flosculosus L.], known as ‘caragantzu burdu’. In addition, the authors compare the pyrethrins contained in these species with an extract of Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevir.) Sch. Bip. [¼Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium (Trevir.) Vis.], a commercial species rich in pyrethrins. The volatile fractions from chrysanthemum flowers were obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2 at 90 bar and 50C and by hydrodistillation. Pyrethrins were extracted, together with other high molecular mass compounds, by SFE at high pressure, 300 bar and 40C. The composition of the volatile oils is determined by GC–MS analysis and the amount of pyrethrins by HPLC analysis. Moreover, the antibacterial and antimycotic activities of volatile fractions were investigated in order to compare to their traditional uses.