Extraction kinetics of volatile components from Foeniculum vulgare by steam distillation / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To reveal the dissolution rule of volatile oil in the extraction processfrom Foeniculum vulgare by GC-MS analysis. Methods The volatile oil of F. vulgare was extracted by steam distillation; The volatile oil/perfume system was collected at fixed time interval (30 min); The volatile oil part and perfume part were separated. Using N-docosane and methyl myrisate as double internal standard, GC-MS was selected for analysis and quantification. The main components were extracted by thermography, and the distribution regularity of components was definited. The principal components with the impact on the composition distribution were investigated according to the physical and chemical properties of the molecular weight, melting point, boiling point, and density of the compounds. Results The GC-MS analysis results concluded 123 volatile components. The main components were estragole, anethole, and (R)-(+)-limonene. There were 60 and 27 endemic components in aromatic aqueous solution and volatile oil, respectively, in which 27were common composition. The content of anethole in water was positively related to the endemic components in aromatic water, and even had a positive correlation with anethole artemisia content and (R)-(+)-limonene content. The specific components in the oil were positively related to the content of the main components (R)-(+)-limonene in the volatile oil. The principal component analysis showed that the physical and chemical properties of the compounds were important factors affecting the distribution of components; PC1 (molecular weight and positive correlation of melting point), PC2 (refractive index positive correlation), and PC3 (water-soluble negative correlation) were the principal components that lead to differences in component distribution. Conclusion In the process of extracting volatile oil from F. vulgare, steam distillation is affected by the physical and chemical properties of volatile components. Some components are specifically distributed in aromatic perfume and volatile oil system. The endemic components of aromatic water increase the content of the main components in the water system, which may lead to theproduction of "emulsification" during the extraction process of volatile oil and reduce the yield and quality of volatile oil.