Analysis of fresh Mentha haplocalyx volatile components by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Fresh Mentha haplocalyx is a well known traditional Chinese medicinal material (CMM) used in both China and America. This paper reports analysis of the volatile components of fresh Mentha haplocalyx by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) and high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HR-TOF-MS), a combination that provides almost complete chemical separation with elemental composition determination of analytes. 163 ketones and terpenes, including menthol and menthone, were tentatively identified, including enantiomers. This study suggests that GCxGCxHR-TOF-MS is suitable for routine identification of target compounds and enantiomers in CMM.