Analysis of fresh Mentha haplocalyx volatile components by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Analyst. 2011 Nov 21;136(22):4653-61. doi: 10.1039/c1an15616k. Epub 2011 Sep 14.

Abstract

Fresh Mentha haplocalyx is a well known traditional Chinese medicinal material (CMM) used in both China and America. This paper reports analysis of the volatile components of fresh Mentha haplocalyx by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) and high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HR-TOF-MS), a combination that provides almost complete chemical separation with elemental composition determination of analytes. 163 ketones and terpenes, including menthol and menthone, were tentatively identified, including enantiomers. This study suggests that GCxGCxHR-TOF-MS is suitable for routine identification of target compounds and enantiomers in CMM.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Gas / methods*
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Mentha / chemistry*
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / analysis*
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Volatile Organic Compounds