Volatile constituents of aerial parts Dianthus rupicola Biv. growing wild in Sicily and its activity against microorganisms affecting museum cellulosic objects.

Dianthus rupicola Biv. (cliffs carnation) is a camephytic, suffruticous, perennial plant up to 40 cm high. The plant widespread in Sicily and neighboring islands (Egadi, Lampedusa, Lipari) and in some areas of Southern Italy. Gaschromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis of the essential oil distilled from the flowers showed the presence of 66 components. Its composition is characterized by the high content of thymol and carvacrol derivatives. A good antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus and B. subtilis, both infesting cellulosic historical material was shown, whereas the antioxidant capacity was determined to be quite poor.