Gas chromatography mass spectral analysis of roots of Echinacea species and classification by multivariate data analysis

An analytical method based on gas chromatography-mass spectral (GC-MS) analysis was developed as a fast screening tool in order to verify the authenticity of extracts of roots from different species of Echinacea, namely E. angustifolia, E. pallida and E. purpurea. Various extraction methods, i.e. soxhlet extraction, supercritical fluid extraction and maceration with three different solvents, were applied and the extracts were analysed by GC-MS, The chromatograms were evaluated by multivariate data analysis, i.e. cluster analysis, principal component analysis;and discriminant analysis, in order to reveal if a classification into the three main species of Echinacea was possible using the Information obtained, GC-MS analysis of the extracts of Echinacea, together with multivariate data analysis, displayed substantial classification power since a good separation of the three different species was achieved, This analytical approach was not only suitable for classification but was also sufficiently robust such that no distortion of root samples by ageing occurred. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.