Development and validation of headspace Solid-Phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography (HS-SPME-GC) method for the analysis of zingiber zerumbet L

Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography (GC-FID) was explored to determine the fingerprinting characteristic of Zingiber zerumbet L. volatiles to differentiate between different ginger species. The effect of different fibers [polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, 7 mu m), polyacrylate (PA, 85 mu m)], different temperature and time on the HS-SPME-GC was investigated by using response surface methodology coupled with full factorial experimental design. The area percentage of the major sesquiterpenes (Zerumbone and alpha-humulene) were 56.3 +/- 4.7% and 47.5 +/- 27.2% with PA fiber, respectively at optimum condition of 70 degrees C and 30 min. Validation of the developed HS-SPME-GC method with limits of detection and quantification for zerumbone was 0.09 and 0.28 mu g/g, respectively, demonstrating the suitable sensitivity of HS-SPME-GC method for the quantification of sesquiterpenes. Therefore, the simplicity of HS-SPME-GC makes it a convenient tool for qualitative and quantitative comparison of different ginger species targeting at the marker sesquiterpene molecule, zerumbone. [GRAPHICS] .

Automated summary

The study used HS-SPME-GC to determine the fingerprinting characteristic of Zingiber zerumbet L. volatiles for differentiating between ginger species. Different fibers, temperature, and time were investigated, with validation showing suitable sensitivity for sesquiterpenes quantification. The developed method's simplicity makes it a convenient tool for comparing different ginger species targeting zerumbone.