Geographical origin identification of propolis using GC–MS and electronic nose combined with principal component analysis

Abstract

Dynamic headspace sampling (DHS) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and olfactometry (GC–MS–O) analysis have been applied for the determination of the characteristic volatile profile of propolis with the aim to differentiate the propolis from different regions of China. Acids, esters, alcohols, terpenes, aromatics represented the most abundant compounds in propolis among the ninety-nine volatile components identified by comparing with mass spectra and retention indices (RI) or from literature. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) based on the data of DHS–GC–MS and electronic nose was used to study and obtain the important volatile compounds contributed to the differentiation of the propolis samples from different regions. Furthermore, a total of 28 odor-active compounds were detected and characterized by the trained panel of judges in the sniffing port of GC–O by using detection frequency analysis (DFA). In conclusion, GC–MS analysis and electronic nose combining with PCA could successfully distinguish the twelve representative raw propolis samples from 4 different geographical regions of China. The samples have been assigned to four large groups in accordance with their vegetal sampling location and we also have observed the volatile compounds resulting in the odor differentiation.