Optimizing Thermal Pretreatment for Volatile Bioactive Profiling in Medicinal Plants Using HS-GC-MS Analysis

Applied Sciences 2026 Open access

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Authors: Péter Tamás Nagy, Florence Alexandra Tóth, Levente Czeglédi, Attila Péter Kiss
DOI: 10.3390/app16021031
Cited by: 0
References: 48

Abstract

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) are aromatic medicinal plants rich in bioactive volatile compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study presents a simple, solvent-free, and eco-friendly headspace GC-MS method for VOC profiling. Optimized thermal pretreatment (40–90 °C) enhanced compound detection, particularly at 70–90 °C, without loss of reproducibility. The approach lowers analytical costs and waste generation, supporting green analytical practices and the sustainable valorization of medicinal herbs as natural functional ingredients.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity Analytical chemistry methods development Plant chemical constituents analysis

Publication details

Journal / source
Applied Sciences
Volume
16
Issue
2
Pages
1031–1031
Publication date
20 January 2026
Language
EN