Analysis of volatile compounds in phytomedicines using thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectroscopy

Aldulaimi, O; Li, WW

Abstract

Volatile essential oils (EOs) from medicinal plants play an important role in the treatment of various diseases. EOs have been shown to exhibit anti-bacterial, antiviral, antimycotic, antitoxigenic, antiparasitic, and insecticidal properties [1]. Several commercial phytomedicines such as Olbas oil (www.olbas.co.uk) [2], Tiger balm (www.tigerbalm.com) and Mentholtum contain EOs from medicinal plants such as peppermint. Thermal desorption (TD) gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) is a very useful technique for the analysis of volatile compounds without using tedious pre-treatment with organic solvents. Here we have analysed and compared the composition of volatile compounds of Olbas oil, Tiger Balm, and Mentholtum using TD GC-MS. Volatiles from each product have been identified and quantified. Menthol and eucalyptol have been found to be present in all the products (Figure). The easy and sensitive TD GC-MS method is useful for the quality control of phytomedicines containing volatile compounds.

Citation

Aldulaimi, O., & Li, W. (2013). Analysis of volatile compounds in phytomedicines using thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. Planta Medica, 79(13), https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1352285

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 15, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Aug 21, 2013
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Jun 7, 2023
• Journal: Planta Medica
• Print ISSN: 0032-0943
• Electronic ISSN: 1439-0221
• Publisher: Thieme Gruppe
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 79
• Issue: 13
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1352285
• Keywords: Organic Chemistry; Complementary and alternative medicine; Drug Discovery; Pharmaceutical Science; Pharmacology; Molecular Medicine; Analytical Chemistry