Microwave distillation followed by headspace single drop microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for fast analysis of volatile components of Echinophora platyloba DC

To avoid the traditional and time consuming hydrodistillation, the analyses of volatile components in aerial parts of Echinophora platyloba DC was carried out by a simple microwave distillation followed by headspace single drop microextraction (MD–HS–SDME) coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The headspace volatile compounds were collected after irradiation using a single drop of n-heptadecan. The extraction conditions were optimised using the relative peak areas as index. The chemical composition of the MD–HS–SDME extracts was confirmed according to their retention indexes and mass spectra. Fifty-three components were extracted and identified by using the MD–HS–SDME method. E-β-ocimene (53.81%), R-d-decalactone (12.75%), α-pinene (6.43%), n-heptanol (6.27%), β-phellanderne (2.70%) and linalool (1.89%) were the major constituents.