Preliminary Investigation of Medicinal Herb Adulteration Using Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography and Chemometric Analysis

Anise is frequently found among the ingredients described in the label of cosmetic products. However, the use of fennel instead of anise may occur due to the lower price of fennel. The main differences in volatile profile of anise and fennel fruits were, for the first time, evaluated using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection (GC×GC/TOFMS) and chemometric analysis. Aproximately 950 peaks were found in chromatograms of each sample and Fisher ratio appointed 31 volatile analytes as the most discriminating between anise and fennel samples. These 31 compounds were used in principal component analysis and canonical discriminant analysis that designated seven compounds (estragole, methyl eugenol, 4,5-dehydro-isolongifolene, calamenene, linalool, β-ocimene and fenchol) as the most important to verify the use of fennel or anise in personal care products. Among these seven compounds, thrree coeluted with other compounds and were correctly identified only with the use of GC×GC/TOFMS.