A critical review on extraction techniques and gas chromatography based determination of grapevine derived sesquiterpenes.

Vitis vinifera L. (common grapevine) is considered one of the major world fruit crops based on the extent of cultivated land and on its economic value. Grapevine is composed by several different chemical compounds, including sesquiterpenic ones. Sesquiterpenic compounds play a significant role in varietal aromas, contributing to fruity and flowery odours, and are also well known for their potential health benefits. The advantages and drawbacks of different extraction and gas chromatographic techniques used for the determination of sesquiterpenic compounds are critically presented. Also, the future trends of sample preparation and gas chromatographic tools are discussed. This review provides the state-of-the-art and the technical know-how for the researchers who want to start studying sesquiterpenic compounds on complex matrices such as grapevine products.