Improvement of the quality of analytical results generated by GC/MS method for characterization of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don essential oil

Most of the papers that treat the composition of essential oils for this purpose use GC/MS or GC/MS and GC/FID techniques for the identification and/or quantification of individual compounds. Therewithal, papers usually treat the composition as semiquantitative (percentage composition as the area of the peak of a particular compound in relation to the total area of the peaks on the chromatogram, given as 100 %). At the same time, the quality of the results is not treated in metrological terms. A GC/MS method for the quantification of components present Helichrysum italicum hydro-distilled essential oil samples from Bosnia and Herzegovina with a similar composition was developed and optimized. The stability of the method setup and adequacy of sample storage and manipulation were assessed. Calibration method and assessment of measurement uncertainty were established for neryl acetate, one of the major compounds with known health benefits.

Automated summary

Most papers on essential oil composition use GC/MS or GC/MS and GC/FID techniques for identification and quantification of compounds. However, the quality of results is not often evaluated in metrological terms. This study developed and optimized a GC/MS method for quantifying a specific essential oil, assessed the stability of the method setup, and evaluated the calibration method and measurement uncertainty for a major compound with known health benefits.