Head-space solid phase microextraction for the GC-MS analysis of terpenoids in herb based formulations.

Head-Space Solid Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) has been employed for sampling of volatile components and their volatile decomposition products occurring in herbal medicines and herb extracts with subsequent injection into a gas chromatographic column. The identification and quantification was performed by coupled gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with classical splitless injection, electron impact ionization and a quadrupole mass analyzer. As fast and inexpensive technique for the isolation of organic analytes HS-SPME with GC-MS can be successfully employed for the quality control of herbal medicines and other formulations containing herb extracts. Analytical results with satisfying accuracy and precision are given.