GC-MS AND HPLC CHROMATOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF MAJORITY VOLATILE AND PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM ROMANIA

This study reports the identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the phenolic composition for these medicinal plants: lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and elderflower (Sambucus nigra). The HS-SPME-GC-MS hyphenated technique was used to investigate the volatiles from the three plants in fresh and dried forms. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation technique, followed by GCMS analysis. Additionally, HPLC-UV/VIS detection was used to identify the phenolic compounds of these plants. The majority compounds identified in the fresh, dried and oil of lemon balm were Z-beta-ocimene, citronellal, citronellol, b-caryophyllene, (E)-citral, (Z)-citral and geraniol respectively. The aerial part of lavender contains mainly linalool, linalyl acetate, beta-myrcene, trans-betaocimene, lavandulyl acetate and caryophyllene. The most compounds identified in the fresh flowers of elderflower were linalool, cis-beta-ocimene, linalool oxide (II) pyran, cis-3-hexenyl isovalerate, while in the dry flowers the majority compounds were linalool oxide (II) pyran, cis-3-hexenyl isovalerate and hexenyl tiglate. The essential oil was rich in n-hexadecanoic acid, linoleic acid, and heneicosane. Majority phenolic compounds identified in the analysed species were vanillic, sinapic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acids, while the predominant flavonoids were rutin, quercetin and epicatechin. The profile of VOCs represents an indicator in the valorisation of medicinal plants.