Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of volatile compounds from Pogostemon Cablin extracted by solid-phase microextraction using novel cucurbit[7]uril-based coordination nanotubular polymer coating

Abstract

A simple, rapid, and efficient method to analyze essential oil contents in a traditional Chinese medicine, Pogostemon Cablin (PTC), was developed using a novel solid-phase microextraction fiber that contains cucurbit[7]uril-based (Q[7]) porous coordination nanotubular polymer followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Solid-phase microextraction parameters such as extraction temperature, extraction time, and sample mass were optimized. Selected solid-phase microextraction conditions include an extraction temperature of 90 °C, an extraction time of 20 min, and a sample mass of 0.2 g. Twenty-five compounds were identified in the PTC. Three active compounds (patchouli alcohol, α-patchoulene, and β-patchoulene) were used to evaluate the extraction efficiency using different methods and fibers. The home-made novel fiber was more selective and particularly efficient in isolating biologically active compounds, and yielded a higher amount of total compounds than steam distillation and commercial fibers (polydimethylsiloxane, polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene, and polydimethylsiloxane/carboxen). Therefore, the novel fiber that contains Q[7]-based porous supramolecular polymer is a good potential alternative to analyze essential oil contents in PTC.

Keywords:

• Cucurbit[7]uril-based porous coordination nanotubular polymer coating
• solid-phase microextraction
• gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
• Pogostemon Cablin