Evaluation of essential oils composition of Ruta chalepensis L. and Ruta corsica DC. using GC-MS

Abstract

Introduction: Ruta chalepensis L. (Rue) and Ruta corsica DC. are aromatic herbs that belong to the family of Rutaceae [1]. Environmental factors strongly influence the Ruta species chemical compositions because of the variability of the plant subspecies and the existence of different chemotypes which change from each region, depending on the soil nature and the climate [2]. The aim of this study is to evaluate essential oils composition of two Rutaceae plants raw materials using GC-MS method. Materials and Methods: Plant material. The plants were collected in the butonization phase (on June 2019). Distillation. 30 g of raw material were weighed into a 1 L round-bottomed flask, 500 mL of distilled water was added and the mixture was stirred. The thermostatic bath with glycerol was used for extraction, maintaining a constant temperature of 120°C. The prepared test samples were kept in a thermostatic bath for 3 hours until the essential oil layer was separated. 1 mL of hexane was added to the collected distillate. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Analysis of essential oils was performed by GC-QP2010 (Shimadzu, Japan) with a mass spectrometer (RTX-5 MS column, 30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm; Perkin Elmer, USA). Analytical conditions: injector temperature 240°C, column temperature 60 °C, injectable sample volume - 1 μL. The temperature in the gas chromatograph was programmed step by step from 60°C (0 min) to 150°C raise 2°C /min. speed and from 150°C to 285°C raise 10°C /min. speed. [...]