GC-MS study of the performance of different techniques for isolating the volatile fraction from sage (SalviaL.) species, and comparison of seasonal differences in the composition of this fraction

Abstract

Summary. Application of chemotaxonomy to the plant kingdom can be regarded as a future challenge to the traditional binomial classification system. Construction of a classification system based on the chemical composition of plants has only recently become possible with the development of sophisticated chromatographic and hyphenated techniques. Successful chemotaxonomy can, however, be achieved only if sufficient experimental evidence is collected confirming the reproducibility of the chemical composition of plant species (irrespective of the specimen, its growing season, location of the collection site, etc.). The objective of this study was to compare, by use of gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC–MS) the efficiency of isolation of volatile compounds from five different Salvia L. (sage) species (S. lavandulifolia, S. staminea, S. hians, S. triloba, and S. nemorosa) by use of four different techniques [head-space extraction at 70 and 80°C, vapour distillation in a Deryng apparatus, and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE)]. We also compared the composition of the volatile fractions of these species collected during two different seasons (2007 and 2008). It was established that the composition of the volatile fractions is very dependent on the species considered and, in a much less pronounced way, on the growing season. This statement is valid irrespective of the technique used to isolate the volatile compounds from the plant matrix. The seasonal reproducibility of the compounds regarded as chemotaxonomic markers and chemotaxonomic advice compounds (and the repeated absence of such compounds from a species) makes the volatile fraction suitable for chemotaxonomic evaluation of sage. Finally, it was shown that head-space extraction of the volatile fraction at 70°C was the best extraction technique for the purpose of this study.