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Interactive use of linear retention indices on polar and apolar columns with an MS-library for reliable characterization of Australian tea tree and other Melaleuca sp. oils

journal contribution
posted on 2003-09-01, 00:00 authored by Robert ShellieRobert Shellie, P Marriott, G Zappia, L Mondello, G Dugo
Australian tea tree oil from Melaleuca alternifolia and M. linariifolia is well known for exhibiting antibacterial, antifungal, and general antiseptic properties. Hence characterization of tea tree oil is important, as this leads to a better understanding of the important components contributing to the observed properties of the oil. GC/MS is widely used for this task. However, reliable identification of oil components is not always possible using mass spectral data only. Retention times or retention indices are often used to support the MS data. The present study investigated a number of different tea tree and other Melaleuca sp. oil samples, and reports qualitative and quantitative data for each sample. Characterization of the individual oil components was performed using a private MS library, which incorporates an interactive linear retention index filter. The method described in this report increases the ease of characterization of individual oil components, and allows a greater number to be reliably assigned. More than 80% of the components in the samples studied are now reliably identified.

History

Journal

Journal of essential oil research

Volume

15

Season

Sep/Oct

Pagination

305-312

Location

Abingdon, Eng.

ISSN

1041-2905

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2003, Taylor & Francis

Issue

5

Publisher

Taylor & Francis