Assessment of the sesquiterpenic profile of Ferula gummosa oleo-gum-resin (galbanum) from Iran. Contributes to its valuation as a potential source of sesquiterpenic compounds

Abstract

The sesquiterpenic composition of the essential oil of Iranian oleo-gum-resin Ferule gummosa Boiss was studied by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC x GC-ToFMS). A total of 106 sesquiterpenic compounds, including 61 hydrocarbons, 29 alcohols, 2 aldehydes, 10 oxides, 2 ketones, 1 furan, and 1 epoxide, were tentatively identified. From these, 68 are reported for the first time in F. gummosa species. Moreover, the most abundant sesquiterpenic compounds detected were the alcohols bulnesol, alpha-eudesmol, and alpha-bisabolol. This work allowed to achieve a deep characterization of the sesquiterpenic composition of F. gummosa oil, a crucial step in the bioprospection of this biomass plant material as a source of sesquiterpenic compounds. Furthermore, this approach can promote the market confidence allowing a more efficient quality control and preventing adulterations. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.