Determination of 3-Methoxy-5-methylphenol and Veramoss in Oakmoss Essential Oil by GC-TOFMS

Abstract

The volatile components of oakmoss essential oil were analyzed by using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) and the peak area normalization method was used to calculate the relative content of each components. With the mass spectrometry library search, 20 compounds, which account for 95.78 % in the volatile components of oakmoss essential oil, were identified by using reference literature and retention index. Veramoss, 3-methoxy-5-methylphenol, triethylene glycol, ethyl orsellinate, methyl everninate, orcinol and linoleic acid were the main components. Compared with gas chromatography and liquid chromatography, the quick method to determine 3-methoxy-5-methylphenol and veramoss in oakmoss essential oil by GC-TOFMS was developed. The linearity of method was obtained in the range of 0.01-2 mg/mL concentrations of 3-methoxy-5-methylphenol and veramoss. The correlation coefficients were 0.9969 for 3-methoxy-5-methylphenol and 0.9960 for veramoss. The limits of detection were 0.12 mg/kg for veramoss and 0.07 mg/kg for 3-methoxy-5-methylphenol. The results showed that the relative standard deviation was less than 4 % for two compounds (n = 6), the recovery of standard addition were 91.06-105.68 % for veramoss and 96.30-107.11 % for 3-methoxy-5-methylphenol. The method can be used to determine 3-methoxy-5-methylphenol and veramoss in oakmoss essential oil or in oakmoss extract.