Development of pressurized hot water extraction followed by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for determination of ligustilides in Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelica sinensis

In this work, a simple, rapid, solvent-free, and low-cost method was developed for the determination of ligustilides in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), which was based on pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) followed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The two bioactive compounds Z-ligustilide and E-ligustilide in two common TCMs, viz. Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelica sinensis, were extracted by water at 150 degrees C and 40 bar, followed by concentration with HS-SPME and detection by GC-MS. PHWE and HS-SPME parameters were investigated and method validation (precision and recovery) was studied. It has been shown that the proposed method provides a powerful approach for quantitative analysis of ligustilides in TCMs. The method was applied to determination of ligustildes in the TCMs from different growing areas. The results indicate that PHWE-HS-SPME-GC-MS is a potential tool for TCM quality assessment.     

Development of microwave-assisted extraction followed by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for quantification of camphor and borneol in Flos Chrysanthemi Indici

In the work, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) followed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for quantitative analysis of the bioactive components of camphor and borneol in a traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) of Flos Chrysanthemi Indici. After systematical investigation, the optimal experimental parameters microwave power (400 W), irradiation time (4 min), fiber coating (PDMS/DVB fiber), extraction temperature (40 °C), extraction time (20 min), stirring rate (1100 rpm), and salt effect (no salt added) were investigated. The optimized method provided satisfactory precision (RSD values less than 12%), good recovery (from 86% to 94%), and good linearity (R² > 0.999). The proposed method was applied to quantitative analysis of camphor and borneol in Flos Chrysanthemi Indici samples from 11 different growing areas. To demonstrate the method feasibility, steam distillation was also used to analyze camphor and borneol in Flos Chrysanthemi Indici samples from these different growing areas. The very close results were obtained by the two methods. It has been shown that the proposed ME-HS-SPME-GC-MS is a simple, rapid, solvent-free and reliable method for quantitative analysis of camphor and borneol in TCM, and a potential tool for quality assessment of Flos Chrysanthemi Indici.     

Determination of Camphor and Borneol in Traditional Chinese Medicines by Microwave-assisted Extraction and Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector

Abstract

In this work, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC–FID) was developed for the rapid determination of camphor and borneol in three traditional Chinese medicines (TCM): Chrysanthemi indici, Flos Chrysanthemi indici and Amomum villosum lour. The optimal MAE conditions obtained were: acetone for solvent, with solvent having sample ratio of 12:1 (v/w); microwave power of 380 W, and an irradiation time of 4 min. Method validations were also studied. To demonstrate the proposed method, ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and steam distillation (SD), followed by GC-FID, were used to analyze camphor and borneol in thethree TCMs. The close results were obtained by the three methods. The results showed that the proposed MAE–GC–FID is a simple, rapid, and reliable method for quantitative analysis of camphor and borneol in TCM, and is also a potential tool for TCM quality assessment.     

Rapid determination of panaxynol in a traditional Chinese medicine of Saposhnikovia divaricata by pressurized hot water extraction followed by liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Panaxynol is a bioactive component in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), such as Saposhnikovia divaricata and Panax ginseng. In the work, two solvent-free sample techniques of pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) and headspace liquid-phase microextraction (HS-LPME) were combined and developed for the determination of panaxynol in a TCM of S. divaricata. Panaxynol in the TCM samples from different growing areas was extracted by PHWE in dynamic mode, followed by extraction and concentration with HS-LPME and analysis with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The PHWE and HS-LPME parameters were optimized and the method validations were studied. Panaxynol in S. divaricata from four different growing areas was quantitatively analyzed by internal standard method. These results have shown that PHWE-LPME-GC-MS is a simple, rapid, efficient and low-cost method for the determination of panaxynol in TCMs and is a potential tool for TCM quality assessment.     

Quality assessment of Flos Chrysanthemi Indici from different growing areas in China by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Flos Chrysanthemi Indici is a common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In this paper, headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was developed for quality assessment of Flos Chrysanthemi Indici from different growing areas in China. SPME parameters such as extraction fibers, extraction temperature, extraction time and sample mass were investigated to achieve identical results to those obtained by the steam distillation (SD). The selected SPME conditions were as follows: SPME fiber coated with 65-microm PDMS/DVB, extraction temperature of 60 degrees C, extraction time of 30 min and sample mass of 1.0 g. Furthermore, four active compounds (eucalyptol, camphor, borneol and bornyl acetate) presented in the TCM were applied to evaluating the quality of Flos Chrysanthemi Indici from 20 various areas. The quality assessment was successfully performed to compare the similarity value (S) between different sample vector of Flos Chrysanthemi Indici and the standard profile vector (SPV). The results showed that the proposed HS-SPME-GC-MS was an alternative technique for quality assessment of Flos Chrysanthemi Indici samples.     

合成龙脑与合成樟脑制备新工艺初探

报道了一种制备合成龙脑与合成樟脑的新工艺。常压下异龙脑在一种含锌催化剂作用下 ,可部分脱氢生成樟脑 ,部分异构化生成龙脑。将此产物分离提纯后可同时得到合成樟脑与合成龙脑     

Fast determination of curcumol, curdione and germacrone in three species of Curcuma rhizomes by microwave-assisted extraction followed by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Curcumol, germacrone and curdione are the main active ingredients in a common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) of Rhizoma Curcuma, and commonly used as the TCM quality control markers. In the present work, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) followed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for the quantitative analysis of curcumol, curdione and germacrone in Rhizoma Curcuma. The MAE and HS-SPME parameters were studied, and the method was validated. The optimal MAE conditions obtained were: microwave power of 700 W and irradiation time of 4 min, and HS-SPME optimal conditions were: fiber coating of 100 microm PDMS, extraction temperature of 80 degrees C, extraction time of 20 min, stirring rate of 1,100 rpm, and salt concentration of 30% NaCl. The proposed method provided good precision (RSD less than 12%) and recoveries between 86% and 93%. The proposed method was applied to the determination of the three marker compounds in three species of Curcuma rhizomes (Curcuma wenyujin, Curcuma phaeocaulis, and Curcuma kwangsiensis). To demonstrate the proposed method reliability, a conventional technique of steam distillation was also used for the analysis of curcumol, germacrone and curdione in the TCMs. The results show that MAE-HS-SPME is a simple, rapid, solvent-free and reliable method for the determination of curdione, curcumol and germacrone in TCM, and also a potential and powerful tool for quality assessment of Rhizoma Curcuma.     

松油醇的分析及其生产工艺改进的研究

 应用气相 红外光谱(GC FTIR)和气相 质谱(GC MS)对合成松油醇及其杂质成分、原料松节油、合成过程中间体粗油(红油和黄油)和天然松油醇进行了分析研究,为判断松油醇产品中杂质产生的原因及改进生产工艺提供了依据。研究结果表明,松油醇中的杂质主要为长叶烯和石竹烯,是由原料松节油带入的。天然松油醇粗油中主要成分是1,8 桉叶素、反式 4 艹守醇、p 异丙烯基甲苯、顺式 4 艹守醇、芳樟醇、樟脑、龙脑、4 松油醇、α 松油醇和黄樟素。天然松油醇中β 松油醇和γ 松油醇含量不如合成松油醇中的含量高,以此可判断松油醇是天然的还是合成的。     

硼酸酯化法分离龙脑、异龙脑与樟脑

用硼酸与异龙脑的异构化产物—龙脑、异龙脑和樟脑的混合物进行反应，得到硼酸莰酯和樟脑。莰酯与樟脑分离后，经水解得到龙脑和异龙脑。     

Pressurised hot water extraction followed by simultaneous derivatization and headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of aliphatic primary amines in sewage sludge

In this paper we describe an environmentally friendly and sensitive method for the determination of ten primary amines in sewage sludge. The method is based on pressurised hot water extraction (PHWE) followed by simultaneous derivatization with pentafluorobenzaldehyde (PFBAY) and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and subsequent gas-chromatography ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (GC-IT-MS-MS) analysis. The influence of the main factors on the PHWE of sludge was optimized by a central composite design. For all species the optimal conditions were water at pH 4 as the extracting solvent, an extraction temperature of 100 °C and an extraction time of 15 min. The separation and detection of the ten amines by GC-IT-MS-MS took just 10 min and the entire process took approximately 1 h. Repeatability and reproducibility between days, expressed as RSD (%) (n = 5), were less than 19 and 24%, respectively. The average limit of detection (LOD) was of 65 μg kg⁻¹ s (range found 9-135) and the average limit of quantification (LOQ) was of 230 μg kg⁻¹ (range found 50-450) of dry weight (d.w.). Under optimized conditions we used this method to determine the compounds in industrial and municipal sewage sludge samples and in sludge from a potable water treatment plant. Methylamine and isobutylamine showed the highest levels in one of the industrial sewage sludge samples (404 and 543 mg kg⁻¹ (d.w.), respectively). To our knowledge, this paper presents for the first time the determination of ten primary amines in sewage sludge samples using PHWE.     

Development of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry following headspace solid-phase microextraction for fast determination of asarones in plasma

Asarones (alpha-asarone and beta-asarone) are the active components in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) of Acorus tatarinowii Schott, which has been used to treat epilepsy for several thousand years. To perform the pharmacokinetics (PK) study of alpha- and beta-asarone from the TCM essential oil, a simple, rapid and sensitive method was developed for the determination of asarones from the TCM in rabbit plasma, based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with electron ionization (EI). The extraction parameters of headspace volume, fiber coating, sample temperature, extraction time, stirring rate and ion strength were systemically optimized. Furthermore, the method linearity, detection limit and precision were also investigated. It was shown that the proposed method provided a good linearity (0.02-20 microg/mL, R(2) > 0.99), low detection limit (<2.0 ng/mL) and good precision (RSD < 7.0%). Finally, HS-SPME followed by GC/MS was applied to fast determination of alpha- and beta-asarone in rabbit plasma at different time points after oral adminstration of the essential oil from A. tatarinowii. The experimental results suggest that the proposed method provides an alternative approach to the PK studies of volatile compounds in TCMs.     

The effect of camphor and borneol on rat thymocyte viability and oxidative stress

Camphor and borneol are wildly distributed in the essential oils of medicinal plants from various parts of the World. Our study has been carried out to evaluate the effect of these two bicyclic monoterpenes on rat thymocytes. Camphor and borneol at concentrations of 0.5 and 5 μg/mL did not induce significant toxicity on the immune system cells, while a significant increase of thymocyte viability was detected when cells were incubated with 50 μg/mL of camphor. A significant increase of cell viability was similarly detected when thymocytes were cultivated with borneol at concentrations of 0.5 and 5 μg/mL. The role of camphor and borneol in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) disturbances in rat thymocytes as well as their potential mechanism(s) of action were also discussed.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the tropospheric reactions of menthol, borneol, fenchol, camphor, and fenchone with hydroxyl radicals (OH) and chlorine atoms (Cl)

Relative kinetic techniques have been used to measure the rate coefficients for the reactions of oxygenated terpenes (menthol, borneol, fenchol, camphor, and fenchone) and cyclohexanol with hydroxyl radicals (OH) and chlorine atoms (Cl) at 298 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure. The rate coefficients obtained for the reactions of the title compounds with OH are the following (in units of 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): (1.48 ± 0.31), (2.65 ± 0.32), (2.49 ± 0.30), (0.38 ± 0.08), (0.39 ± 0.09) for menthol, borneol, fenchol, camphor, and fenchone, respectively. For the corresponding reactions with Cl atoms the rate coefficients are as follows (in units of 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): (3.21 ± 0.26), (3.40 ± 0.28), (2.72 ± 0.13), (2.93 ± 0.17), (1.59 ± 0.10), and (1.86 ± 0.29) for cyclohexanol, menthol, borneol, fenchol, camphor, and fenchone, respectively. The reported error is twice the standard deviation. Product studies of the reactions were performed using multipass in situ FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with analysis by GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). A detailed mechanism is proposed to justify the observed reaction products.     

Accurate analysis of trace earthy-musty odorants in water by headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple and sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous separation and determination of trace earthy-musty compounds including geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol, 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, 2,3,4-trichloroanisole, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, and 2,3,6-trichloroanisole in water samples. This method combined headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and used naphthalene-d(8) as internal standard. A divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fiber exposing at 90°C for 30 min provided effective sample enrichment in HS-SPME. These compounds were separated by a DB-1701MS capillary column and detected in selected ion monitoring mode within 12 min. The method showed a good linearity from 1 to 100 ng L(-1) and detection limits within (0.25-0.61 ng L(-1)) for all compounds. Using naphthalene-d(8) as the internal standard, the intra-day relative standard deviation (RSD) was within (2.6-3.4%), while the inter-day RSD was (3.5-4.9%). Good recoveries were obtained for tap water (80.5-90.6%), river water (81.5-92.4%), and lake water (83.5-95.2%) spiked at 10 ng L(-1). Compared with other methods using HS-SPME for determination of odor compounds in water samples, this present method had more analytes, better precision, and recovery. This method was successfully applied for analysis of earthy-musty odors in water samples from different sources.     

Comparative analysis of essential oils from eight herbal medicines with pungent flavor and cool nature by GC–MS and chemometric resolution methods

Systematic comparative research was conducted on essential oils from eight traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) of pungent flavor and cool nature because the essential oils are the main active ingredients of herbs of this kind. The work was based on their component analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), on their retention indices, as well as on chemometric resolution methods. A total of 144 compounds were tentatively identified, accounting for 69.0% to 91.8% of the total essential oils. It is worth noting that there are 67 compounds in at least three of these eight essential oils. Moreover, many biologically active compounds, such as hexanal, α‐pinene, camphene, β‐pinene, p‐cymene, limonene, eucalyptol, (Z)‐ocimene, γ‐terpinene, camphor, p‐menthone, 4‐terpineol, α‐terpineol, carvone, eugenol, caryophyllene, β‐farnesene, α‐curcumene, β‐selinene, δ‐cadinene, caryophyllene oxide, cedrol, n‐hexadecanoic acid, benzaldehyde, benzeneacetaldehyde, phthalic acid diisobutyl ester, linoleic acid, tetradecanoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)‐9,12,15‐octadecatrienoic acid, eucalyptol, pentadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, linoleic acid methyl ester, exist in at least four of the eight essential oils. These results might help us to understand why the eight herbs are all of pungent flavor and cool nature according to the theory of TCM, and may provide a useful chemical basis for future research on herbs of this kind.     

Pressurised hot-water extraction of brominated flame retardants in sediment samples

Summary A pressurised, hot-water extraction (PHWE) method was developed for brominated flame-retardants in sediments. The effect of extraction time, temperature and pressure on PHWE recovery was investigated, together with solid-phase collection parameters (trapping material, length of trapping column, eluent composition). The concentrated extracts were analysed by GC-MS. PHWE recoveries were compared with those obtained by conventional Soxhlet-extraction. In general, recoveries were much higher with PHWE than with Soxhlet.     

Use of solid phase microextraction in diffusive sampling of the atmosphere generated by different essential oils

This work describes the development and optimisation of a complete headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) procedure for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the equilibrium headspace generated by a number of essential oils (EOs) with potential applications in active packaging, including basil (Ocinum basilicum), clove (Sygyzium aromaticum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), citronella (Melissa officinalis), and cinnamon (Cinnamonum zeylanicum). The method consists of a combination of fully exposed HS-SPME for qualitative analysis and diffusive HS-SPME for quantitative determination.First, complete optimisation of a fully exposed HS-SPME procedure was carried out by means of a combination of a Plackett-Burman screening experimental design and response surface modelling (RSM). The results were used to fully describe the atmosphere generated by the EOs and to select the most relevant compounds for further consideration.The fibres were then calibrated (i.e. the uptake rate was calculated) by exposing them to known concentrations of terpenes in closed extraction vials. With a sampling time of 30 min at 20 °C, uptake rates ranged from 2.2 to 3.3 pg (min ppb_v)⁻¹. Results were checked by sampling over extended periods of times, with the observed variation being less than 5%, despite a 10-fold increase in extraction time. The results were further validated by comparing the calculated diffusion coefficients with theoretical data. The ratios of experimental:theoretical values varied between 0.85 and 1.05. The sensitivity of the uptake rate to headspace concentration was also investigated; variation of less than 10% was observed despite changes in concentration of four orders of magnitude. The new diffusive sampling method proved to give robust determinations of all the test analytes (by contrast, HS-SPME failed for camphene, camphor and cinnamaldehyde), providing repetitivity and intermediate precision lower than 9% (the values for HS-SPME were 10 and 12%, respectively).     

Evaluation of surfactant‐assisted pressurized hot water extraction for marker compounds in Radix Codonopsis pilosula using liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

In the move towards the elimination of organic solvents in the extraction process in botanicals, a new method combining surfactant and pressurized hot water extraction (PWHE) with an applied temperature below the boiling point and lower pressure from 10 to 20 bar was developed for the analysis of marker compounds that are reasonably hydrophobic such as tetradeca‐4E,12E‐diene‐8,10‐diyne‐1,6,7‐triol and tetradeca‐4E,12E‐diene‐8,10‐diyne‐1,6,7‐triol‐O‐β‐D‐glucoside in Radix Codonopsis pilosula (DangShen). Because reference substances for the proposed botanicals were not available, a method was developed to isolate the marker compounds in Radix Codonopsis pilosula. Other than surfactant‐assisted PHWE, the marker compounds present in Radix Codonopsis pilosula were extracted using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with methanol and PHWE with a mixture of water/ethanol (80:20). The extracts were analyzed using liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. With surfactant‐assisted PHWE, the effects of different added surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X‐100 was studied. Surfactant assisted PHWE with Triton X‐100 proved to be at least equivalent or better compared to Soxhlet extraction in terms of quantitative analysis of marker compounds in Radix Codonopsis pilosula. The method precision was less than 8% (RSD, n = 6). The presence of surfactants in PHWE was found to enhance the solubility of target compounds naturally occurring in medicinal plants.     

Determination of pyrethroid,organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides in water by headspace solid-phase microextraction

Simultaneous determination of pyrethroid, organophosphate (OP) and organochlorine (OC) pesticides in water was achieved with headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The parameters affecting HS-SPME of pesticides from water were optimized, including extraction temperature, sample and headspace volumes, and sodium chloride amounts. The effects of desorption temperature, desorption time, and position of the fibre in the GC inlet were also investigated. Extraction temperature was the most important factor affecting the recoveries of analytes, and the optimized temperature was 96°C. The addition of salt did not increase extraction efficiencies of the pesticides from the water. The optimized desorption conditions in the GC were as follows: desorption time of 10?min; desorption temperature of 260°C; and a 2?cm position of the fibre in the inlet. The method detection limits were in the low-ng/L level with a linearity range of 50–1000?ng/L for the OCs, 50–5000?ng/L for the OP, and 50–20?000?ng/L for the pyrethroids. These data demonstrated that HS-SPME is a sensitive method for the determination of pyrethroid, OC, and OP pesticides in water.     

Development of a rapid and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of 1,2-dibromoethane, 1,4-dichlorobenzene and naphthalene residues in honey using HS-SPME coupled with GC-MS

A new method for the simultaneous determination of 1,4-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB), naphthalene and 1,2-dibromoethane (1,2-DBE) residues in honey has been developed. Analysis is carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in selected ion monitoring mode (SIM), after extraction and preconcentration of target analytes by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), with a 100 microm film thickness polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber. Several parameters affecting the extension of the adsorption process (i.e., addition of salt, extraction time, extraction temperature) were studied. The optimal conditions for the determination of these analytes were established. The proposed HS-SPME method showed good sensitivity, without carryover between the samples. Linearity was studied from 5 to 2500 microg kg(-1) for p-DCB, 0.5 to 500 microg kg(-1) for naphthalene and 5 to 500 microg kg(-1) honey for 1,2-DBE with correlation coefficients (r(2)) ranging from 0.9901 to 0.9999. Precision was assessed and both intra and inter-day R.S.D.s (%) were below 6.3%. The detection limits were found to be 1, 0.1 and 2 microg kg(-1) honey for p-DCB, naphthalene and 1,2-DBE, respectively. The percentage recoveries that were evaluated with the proposed HS-SPME method and the standard addition calibration technique gave values among 72.8 and 104.3% for measurements in samples spiked with one target analyte or mixtures of the three. This method has been applied for the analysis of unknown honey samples. The results showed an excellent applicability of the proposed method for the determination of the target compounds in honey samples.