Cachrys pungens Jan ex Guss.: the essential oil chemical composition of the accession growing wild in Sicily (Italy)

The genus Cachrys L., included within the Apiaceae family, has a wide geographical distribution. It has a fairly complex nomenclatural history as it is shared with two other genera: Hippomarathrum Link non P.G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb., and Prangos Lindl. Cachrys pungens Jan ex Guss. is a perennial plant growing primarily in the temperate biome. The native range of this species is S. Italy, Sicily and NW. Africa. In the present study the chemical composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of this plant, never previously investigated, was evaluated by GC-MS. The essential oil (Cp) was characterised by large amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons (67.51%) being β-cis-ocimene (13.55%), sabinene (12.57%) and γ-terpinene (10.56%) the main constituents. A comparison with all the other studied essential oils of genus Cachrys is discussed. Furthermore, a review of the use of the Cachrys species in the popular medicine has been carried out.