Chemical and Bioactivities Characterisation of the Hydrosol and the Essential Oil of Carlina vulgaris L.

This study aimed to compare the antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties of the hydrosol extract and essential oil of the roots of Carlina vulgaris L., with a view to identifying new bioactive compounds. The chemical composition was analysed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH, FRAP, and β‐carotene bleaching assays, anti‐inflammatory effects through protein denaturation inhibition, and antimicrobial activity was evaluated against selected bacterial and fungal strains. The essential oil contained mainly hexadecanoic acid (27%), carlina oxide (23.6%), and neophytadiene (24.1%), whereas the hydrosol was rich in acetylenic compounds (92.5%), including carlina oxide (79.3%). The hydrosol showed strong antioxidant activity (IC 50 = 8.9 mg/L), strong anti‐inflammatory activity (94.6% inhibition), and inhibition zones ranging from 15.8 to 38.1 mm. These results suggest that C. vulgaris hydrosol may be a promising natural agent for pharmaceutical applications.