Eupatorium buniifolium aroma profile assessment by HS-SPME, steam distillation and organic solvent extraction

Abstract

The profile of volatile compounds from the aerial parts of Eupatorium buniifolium was assessed by capturing the aroma of fresh plants using three commercial SPME phases. These headspace solid phase microextraction procedures (HS-SPME) were coupled to GC-FID and GC-MS analysis. Hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes were the main components of E. buniifolium volatiles, followed by hydrocarbon monoterpenes. The three fiber performances were statistically comparable in the extraction of both terpene groups. E. buniifolium essential oil (EO) was obtained by steam distillation (SD) and assessed by both, direct injection and HS-SPME. The three fibers could reliably adsorb/absorb the aromas of E. buniifolium EOs, with comparable with EO composition. The fresh plant volatile profile significantly differed from its EO because some sesquiterpene fraction remained in the biomass after SD. Extracts of the fresh plant material were obtained using organic solvents and evaluated by direct injection. Ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts gave a different aroma profile of E. bunnifolium than the EO.