Abstract

ROLE OF GC–MS IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS IN MEDICINAL PLANTS – A REVIEW

Kamali R.*, Dr. Senthil Raja M.

Abstract

Medicinal plants contain numerous volatile constituents, particularly monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, oxygenated terpenoids, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols and esters. These compounds contribute to aroma, plant defense and several biological activities and can serve as chemical markers for authentication and quality control. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is one of the most important analytical techniques for volatile compounds because gas chromatography separates components while mass spectrometry provides characteristic fragmentation patterns for identification. Identification is commonly supported by mass spectral library matching, retention indices and, when required, authentic reference standards. GC–MS is widely applied to essential-oil characterization, phytochemical profiling, chemotaxonomy, authentication, adulteration assessment and quantitative analysis. This review briefly discusses the principle, instrumentation, sample preparation, identification, quantification, applications, advantages, limitations and future perspectives of GC–MS in medicinal plants.

Keywords: GC–MS; medicinal plants; volatile compounds; essential oils; phytochemical profiling; retention index; quality control; quantification.