Nat Prod Sci.  2016 Mar;22(1):30-34. 10.20307/nps.2016.22.1.30.

Use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Analysis of Fennel Essential Oil

• AbouZid S

• KMID: 2312918
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.20307/nps.2016.22.1.30

Abstract

A simple and rapid method based on proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was developed for determination of trans-anethole content in fennel essential oil. Spectra of pure trans-anethole, of the pure essential oil of fennel, and of the pure oil of fennel with thymol internal standard were recorded. The signal of H-1/ was used for quantification of trans-anethole. This proton signal is well separated in the proton magnetic resonance spectrum of the compound. No reference compound is needed and cheap internal standard was used. The results obtained from spectroscopic analysis were compared with those obtained by gas chromatography. Additionally, the developed method was used for determination of the type of vegetable oil used as a carrier in commercial products, which cannot be quantified as such by gas chromatography. This study demonstrates the application of proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a quality control method for estimation of essential oil components.

Keyword

Fennel; Essential oil; trans-Anethole; 1H NMR spectroscopy; Carrier oil

MeSH Terms

Chromatography, Gas
Foeniculum*
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy*
Protons
Quality Control
Spectrum Analysis*
Thymol
Vegetables
Protons
Thymol

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. 1 H NMR spectra of trans-anethole (a) and of pure essential oil of fennel (b).

• 

  Fig. 2. Chemical structure of thymol.

• 

  Fig. 3. 1 H NMR spectrum of pure essential oil of fennel and thymol added as an internal standard. The inset shows the H-2 of thymol used as a reference peak for analysis.

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  Fig. 4. GC chromatogram of the essential oil of fennel. The inset shows analysis of authentic reference standard of trans-anethole.

• 

  Fig. 5. 1 H NMR spectrum of a commercial sample of essential oil of fennel.

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