Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications - digital archive 

Abstract

Extraction procedures (steam distillation, supercritical fluid extraction and solvent extraction) for isolation of monoterpene hydrocarbons from fresh needles of Picea abies and Picea omorica were optimised. The procedures were compared with the aim of minimizing consumption of needles and improving the extraction efficiency and repeatability. An influence of homogenisation procedures and storage conditions (liquid nitrogen, -18 and 4 °C) on the total content and composition of essential oils was studied. Cryogenic grinding (liquid nitrogen) combined with the extraction with cold hexane (extraction time 2 h) and subsequent GC-MS determination in freshly homogenised needles gives the best results (1.5-4 times better extraction efficiency, RSD < 10% for P. abies and < 25% for P. omorica). Limits of detections (3 S/N) for individual monoterpene hydrocarbons from units to tens of ng/g and recoveries 97.2-101.4% were found in fresh needles (calculated to fresh weight). While cooling to 4 °C is unacceptable, freezing at -18 °C for the period of 18 days in the dark gives also good results.

Keywords: Plants; Isolation; Natural products; Monoterpenes; Extractions; Steam distillations; Supercritical fluid extraction; GC-MS; Gas chromatography; Mass spectrometry.

References: 12 live references.