Techniques for gas chromatography of volatile terpenoids from a range of matrices

Quantitative Determination of Cannabis Terpenes Using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector

Background: Cannabis has a long history of being credited with centuries of healing powers for millennia. The cannabis plant is a rich source of cannabinoids and terpenes. Each cannabis chemovar exhibits a different flavor and aroma, which are determined by its terpene content. Methods: In this study, a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector method was developed and validated for the determination of the 10 major terpenes in the main three chemovars of Cannabis sativa L. with n-tridecane used as the internal standard following the standard addition method. The 10 major terpenes (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes) are α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, limonene, terpinolene, linalool, α-terpineol, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and caryophyllene oxide. The method was validated according to Association of Official Analytical Chemists guidelines. Spike recovery studies for all terpenes were carried out on placebo cannabis material and indoor-growing high THC chemovar with authentic standards. Results: The method was linear over the calibration range of 1-100 μg/mL with r2>0.99 for all terpenes. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were calculated to be 0.3 and 1.0 μg/mL, respectively, for all terpenes. The accuracy (%recovery) at all levels ranged from 89% to 104% and 90% to 111% for placebo and indoor-growing high THC chemovar, respectively. The repeatability and intermediate precision of the method were evaluated by the quantification of target terpenes in the three different C. sativa chemovars, resulting in acceptable relative standard deviations (less than 10%). Conclusions: The developed method is simple, sensitive, reproducible, and suitable for the detection and quantification of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in C. sativa biomass.

Quantitative evaluation and chromatographic fingerprinting for the quality assessment of Pudilan tablet

An easy, quick, and sensitive approach adopting ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) equipped with diode array detector was used to analyze and systematically evaluate the quality of Pudilan tablets manufactured by 12 distinct pharmaceutical companies. In this research, 15 peaks were chosen as the common peaks to assess the similarities for different batches (S1–S43) of Pudilan tablet samples. In comparison with the control fingerprint, similarity values for 43 batches of samples exceeded 0.922. In addition, by analyzing the reference substances of epigoitrin, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, acetylcorynoline, baicalin and baicanshialein, the chromatogram of the 6 reference substances was established. The recoveries for the reference substances which demonstrated good regression in the linear range (r 2 > 0.999) were in the range of 98.3–101.1%. The results demonstrated that the established method was highly accurate, efficient and reliable. This study provides a valid, dependable and pragmatic method to evaluate the quality of Pudilan tablet.

Membrane Disruption Properties of Essential Oils—A Double-Edged Sword?

The emerging literature has suggested essential oils (EOs) as new possible weapons to fight antimicrobial resistance due to their inherent antimicrobial properties. However, the potential pharmaceutical use of EOs is confronted by several limitations, including being non-specific in terms of drug targeting, possessing a high cytotoxicity as well as posing a high risk for causing skin irritation. Furthermore, some EOs have been demonstrated to adversely affect the cellular lipid profiles and permeability of the cell membrane, which may result in undesirable outcomes for the cells. Nevertheless, owing to their naturally complex compositions, EOs still hold undiscovered potential to mitigate antimicrobial resistance, as an alternative to existing antibiotics. To address the issue of overuse in antibiotics for crops which have led to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance globally, EOs have also been proposed as potential biopesticides. Since the perceived advantages of antimicrobial attributes in EOs remain largely unexplored, this review aims to provide a discourse into its current practical usefulness in the agricultural setting. Finally, updated bioengineering techniques with emphasis of the biopesticide potential of EOs as a means to alleviate antimicrobial resistance will be included.

Essential Oils as Natural Sources of Fragrance Compounds for Cosmetics and Cosmeceuticals

Fragrance is an integral part of cosmetic products and is often regarded as an overriding factor in the selection of cosmetics among consumers. Fragrances also play a considerable role in masking undesirable smells arising from fatty acids, oils and surfactants that are commonly used in cosmetic formulations. Essential oils are vital assets in the cosmetic industry, as along with imparting pleasant aromas in different products, they are able to act as preservatives and active agents and, simultaneously, offer various benefits to the skin. Moreover, the stimulating demand for natural ingredients has contributed massively to a renewed interest in cosmetic and wellness industries in plant derivatives, especially essential oils. This has led popular cosmetic companies to endorse natural fragrances and opt for minimally processed natural ingredients, given the potentially adverse health risks associated with artificial fragrance chemicals, which are major elements of cosmetics. Among the high-valued essential oils used as fragrances are citrus, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree and other floral oils, among others, while linalool, geraniol, limonene, citronellol, and citral are much-appreciated fragrance components used in different cosmetics. Thus, this review aimed to highlight the enormous versatility of essential oils as significant sources of natural fragrances in cosmetics and cosmeceuticals. Moreover, a special focus will be laid on the different aspects related to essential oils such as their sources, market demand, chemistry, fragrance classification, aroma profile, authenticity and safety.

Estimation of Retention Time in GC/MS of Volatile Metabolites in Fragrant Rice Using Principle Components of Molecular Descriptors

A quantitative structure-retention relationship (QSRR) study was applied for an estimation of retention times of secondary volatile metabolites in Thai jasmine rice. In this study, chemical components in rice seed were extracted using solvent extraction, then separated and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A set of molecular descriptors was generated for these substances obtained from GC-MS analysis to numerically represent the molecular structure of such compounds. Principal component analysis (PCA) and principal component regression analysis (PCR) were used to model the retention times of these compounds as a function of the theoretically derived descriptors. The best fitted regression model was obtained with R-squared of 0.900. The informative chemical properties related to retention time were elucidated. The results of this study demonstrate clearly that the combination of molecular weight and autocorrelation functions of two dimensional interatomic distance, which are molecular polarizability, atom identity, sigma charge, sigma electronegativity and polarizability, can be considered as comprehensive factors for predicting the retention times of volatile compounds in rice.

Commercial Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials to Treat Skin Diseases

Essential oils are one of the most notorious natural products used for medical purposes. Combined with their popular use in dermatology, their availability, and the development of antimicrobial resistance, commercial essential oils are often an option for therapy. At least 90 essential oils can be identified as being recommended for dermatological use, with at least 1500 combinations. This review explores the fundamental knowledge available on the antimicrobial properties against pathogens responsible for dermatological infections and compares the scientific evidence to what is recommended for use in common layman's literature. Also included is a review of combinations with other essential oils and antimicrobials. The minimum inhibitory concentration dilution method is the preferred means of determining antimicrobial activity. While dermatological skin pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus have been well studied, other pathogens such as Streptococcus pyogenes, Propionibacterium acnes, Haemophilus influenzae, and Brevibacterium species have been sorely neglected. Combination studies incorporating oil blends, as well as interactions with conventional antimicrobials, have shown that mostly synergy is reported. Very few viral studies of relevance to the skin have been made. Encouragement is made for further research into essential oil combinations with other essential oils, antimicrobials, and carrier oils.

Multivariate optimization of a headspace solid-phase microextraction method followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry for the determination of terpenes in Nicotiana langsdorffii

A simple and sensitive procedure based on headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of five terpenes (α-pinene, limonene, linalool, α-terpineol, and geraniol) in the leaves of Nicotiana langsdorffii. The microextraction conditions (extraction temperature, equilibration time, and extraction time) were optimized by means of a Doehlert design. The experimental design showed that, for α-pinene and limonene, a low temperature and a long extraction time were needed for optimal extraction, while linalool, α-terpineol, and geraniol required a high temperature and a long extraction time. The chosen compromise conditions were temperature 60°C, equilibration time 15 min and extraction time 50 min. The main analytical figures of the optimized method were evaluated; LODs ranged from 0.07 ng/g (α-pinene) to 8.0 ng/g (geraniol), while intraday and interday repeatability were in the range 10-17% and 9-13%, respectively. Finally, the procedure was applied to in vitro wild-type and transgenic specimens of N. langsdorffii subjected to abiotic stresses (chemical and heat stress). With the exception of geraniol (75-374 ng/g), low concentration levels of terpenes were measured (ng/g level or lower); some interesting variations in terpene concentration induced by abiotic stress were observed.

Evaluation of selected quality parameters to monitor essential oil alteration during storage

Several analytical methods including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were applied on essential oils to establish a set of suitable quality parameters for monitoring changes during storage. For this purpose, 7 essential oils derived from various plant families were exposed to possible worst-case conditions for up to 3 mo at 38 °C under cool white light in the presence of atmospheric oxygen. After storage and immediate freezing at -80 °C to stop further alterations until analysis, individual physicochemical parameters were assessed and are discussed with regard to the precision of the respective method as well as suitability to monitor aging processes. To determine conductivity and pH values, a work-up of essential oils by water extraction was established. Conductivity, peroxide value as well as pH turned out to be suitable parameters to picture alterations. Additionally, HPLC fingerprints were monitored by diode array detection to track underlying chemical changes in essential oil composition.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

This study evaluates a set of analytical parameters to track changes during essential oil storage. On this basis, quality alterations can be monitored.

Extraction and Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of the Active Principles from Selected Chinese Herbs and Other Medicinal Plants

Medicinal herbs have a long history of use in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine and a substantial body of evidence has, over recent decades, demonstrated a range of important pharmacological properties. Western biomedical researchers are examining not only the efficacy of the traditional herbal products but, through the use of a range of bioassays and analytical techniques, are developing improved methods to isolate and characterize active components. This review briefly describes the different extraction methodologies used in the preparation of herbal extracts and reviews the utility of chromatography-mass spectrometry for the analysis of their active components. In particular, applications of gas or liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry for the isolation and characterization of active components of ginseng are critically assessed. The analysis of toxic substances from herb extracts with mass spectrometric techniques is also discussed along with the potential for mass spectrometric methods to investigate the proteomics of herbal extracts.

Sample preparation for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in air and water matrices

This review summarizes literature data from the past 5 years on new developments and/or applications of sample preparation methods for analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOC), mainly in air and water matrices. Novel trends in the optimization and application of well-established airborne VOC enrichment techniques are discussed, like the implementation of advanced cooling systems in cryogenic trapping and miniaturization in adsorptive enrichment techniques. Next, focus is put on current tendencies in integrated sampling-extraction-sample introduction methods such as solid phase microextraction (SPME) and novel in-needle trapping devices. Particular attention is paid to emerging membrane extraction techniques such as membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) and membrane extraction with a sorbent interface (MESI). For VOC enrichment out of water, recent evolutions in direct aqueous injection (DAI) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) are highlighted, with main focus on miniaturized solvent extraction methods such as single drop microextraction (SDME) and liquid phase microextraction (LPME). Next, solvent-free sorptive enrichment receives major attention, with particular interest for innovative techniques such as stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and solid phase dynamic extraction (SPDE). Finally, recent trends in membrane extraction are reviewed. Applications in both immersion and headspace mode are discussed.

Practical approaches to plant volatile analysis

Plants emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that play important roles in their interaction with the environment and have a major impact on atmospheric chemistry. The development of static and dynamic techniques for headspace collection of volatiles in combination with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis has significantly improved our understanding of the biosynthesis and ecology of plant VOCs. Advances in automated analysis of VOCs have allowed the monitoring of fast changes in VOC emissions and facilitated in vivo studies of VOC biosynthesis. This review presents an overview of methods for the analysis of plant VOCs, including their advantages and disadvantages, with a focus on the latest technical developments. It provides guidance on how to select appropriate instrumentation and protocols for biochemical, physiological and ecologically relevant applications. These include headspace analyses of plant VOCs emitted by the whole organism, organs or enzymes as well as advanced on-line analysis methods for simultaneous measurements of VOC emissions with other physiological parameters.

LC determination of citral in Cymbopogon citratus volatile oil

It was the aim of this study to develop and validate a HPLC method for the quantitative determination of citral in Cymbopogon citratus volatile oil. The HPLC assay was performed using a Spherisorb CN column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm), a n-hexane:ethanol (85:15) mobile phase and an UV detector (set at 233 nm). The following parameters were evaluated: linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, quantification and detection limits. The method showed linearity in the range of 10.0-30.0 microg ml(-1). Precision and accuracy were determined at the concentration of 20 microg ml(-1). The concentration of citral in C. citratus volatile oil obtained with this assay was 75%. The HPLC method developed in this study showed an excellent performance (linearity, precision, accuracy and specificity) and can be applied to assay citral in volatile oil.

Aroma compound analysis of Piper nigrum and Piper guineense essential oils from Cameroon using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography, solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and olfactometry

The investigation of aroma compounds of the essential oils of dried fruits of black pepper (Piper nigrum) and black and white "Ashanti pepper" (Piper guineense) from Cameroon by means of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was carried out for the first time to identify the odorous target components responsible for the characteristic odor of these valuable spices and food flavoring products. By means of GC-flame ionization detection (FID) and GC-MS (using different polar columns) the main compounds (concentration >3.0%, calculated as area of GC-FID analysis using a non-polar fused-silica open tubular RSL-200 column) of the SPME headspace samples of P. nigrum (black) and P. guineense (black and white) were found to be: P. nigrum (black)--germacrene D (11.01%), limonene (10.26%), beta-pinene (10.02%), alpha-phellandrene (8.56%), beta-caryophyllene (7.29%), alpha-pinene (6.40%) and cis-beta-ocimene (3.19%); P. guineense (black)--beta-caryophyllene (57.59%), beta-elemene (5.10%), bicyclogermacrene (5.05%) and alpha-humulene (4.86%); and P. guineense (white)--beta-caryophyllene (51.75%), cis-beta-ocimene (6.61%), limonene (5.88%), beta-pinene (4.56%), linalool (3.97%) and alpha-humulene (3.29%). The most intense odor impressions of the essential oils of the various dried pepper fruits were given byprofessional perfumers as follows: P nigrum (black)--fine, pleasant black pepper note; P. guineense (black)--black pepper top-note; and P. guineense (white)--pleasant white pepper note. These analytical results for the SPME headspace samples of three different pepper species from Cameroon are in accordance with the olfactoric data of the corresponding essential oils. A GC-sniffing technique was used to correlate the single odor impression of the identified SPME headspace volatiles of the three investigated pepper samples with the following results: themain compounds such as beta-caryophyllene, germacrene D, limonene, beta-pinene, alpha-phellandrene and alpha-humulene, as well as minor constituents such as delta-carene, beta-phellandrene, isoborneol, alpha-guaiene, sarisan, elemicin, calamenene, caryophyllene alcohol, isoelemicin, T-muurolol, cubenol and bulnesol, are of greatest importance for the characteristic pepper odor notes of these three Piper samples. Further aroma impressions can be attributed to mono- and sesquiterpenes, hexane, octane and nonane derivatives.

Characterisation of lavender essential oils by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with correlation of linear retention indices and comparison with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Nine samples of lavender essential oil were analysed by GC-MS using low-polarity and polar capillary columns. Linear retention indices (LRI) were calculated for each component detected. Characterisation of the individual components making up the oils was performed with the use of an mass spectrometry (MS) library developed in-house. The MS library was designed to incorporate the chromatographic data in the form of linear retention indices. The MS search routine used linear retention indices as a post-search filter and identification of the "unknowns" was made more reliable as this approach provided two independent parameters on which the identification was based. Around 70% of the total number of components in each sample were reliably characterised. A total of 85 components were identified. Semi-quantitative analysis of the same nine samples was performed by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionisation detection (FID). The identified components accounted for more than 95% of each oil. By comparing the GC-MS results with the results from the GCxGC-FID analysis of a lavender essential oil, many more components could be found within the two-dimensional separation space.

Sensitive indoor air monitoring of monoterpenes using different adsorbents and thermal desorption gas chromatography with mass-selective detection

A simple method using active trapping on adsorbents and thermal desorption followed by GC-MS analysis was developed for the indoor air monitoring of monoterpenes. The study was carried out using a dynamically generated atmosphere consisting of 11 monoterpenes: camphene, camphor, delta 3-carene, 1,8-cineol, limonene, linalool, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, alpha-terpinene, gamma-terpinene, fenchyl alcohol. The influence of the different adsorbents Tenax TA, Tenax GR, Carbosieve SIII, Chromosorb 106 on the yield of six selected monoterpenes at indoor air concentrations was studied. The adsorbent Tenax GR gave relatively the best yields followed by Tenax TA. Detection limits of approximately 1 microgram m3 were determined with Tenax GR for most of the monoterpenes.