Determination of the volatile and semi-volatile secondary metabolites, and aristolochic acids in Aristolochia ringens Vahl.

Volatile and semi-volatile secondary metabolites, as well as aristolochic acids (AA), present in leaves, stems, and flowers of Aristolochia ringens were determined by gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods, respectively. Metabolite isolation was performed using different extraction techniques: microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MWHD), supercritical fluid extraction, and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME). The chemical composition of the extracts and oils was established by GC-MS. The determinations of AAI and AAII were conducted by methanolic extraction of different plant parts followed by HPLC analysis. Essential oil yields from leaves and stems were 0.008 +/- 0.0022% and 0.047 +/- 0.0026%, respectively. Aristolochia ringens flowers did not yield essential oil under MWHD. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (66%) were the main compounds in the essential oil isolated from leaves whereas monoterpene hydrocarbons (73%) predominated in the stems essential oil. Yields of extracts isolated by SFE from leaves, stems, and flowers were 4 +/- 1.8%, 1.2 +/- 0.25%, and 4 +/- 1.8%, respectively. In vivo HS-SPME of flowers isolated compounds with known unpleasant smells such as volatile aldehydes and short-chain carboxylic acids. HPLC analysis detected the presence of AAII in the flowers of Aristolochia ringens at a concentration of 610 +/- 47 mg/kg of dried flower.