Chemical compositions of the volatile extracts from seeds of Dendranthema nankingense and Borago officinalis

Shimin Wu, Ting Xu, Danfeng Huang

Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Road 800, Shanghai 200240, China

Bor S. Luh Food Safety Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Road 800, Shanghai 200240, China

Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South), Ministry of Agriculture, Dongchuan Road 800, Shanghai 200240, China

Volatile extracts from the seeds of Dendranthema nankingense Hand.-Mazz. and Borago officinalis L. were prepared using simultaneous distillation and extraction, and analyzed with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry on two capillary gas chromatography columns of different polarity. Ninety-five volatile compounds were identified in D. nankingense seeds, with hexanal, benzeneacetaldehyde, borneol, (−)-camphor, and 3-methyl-1-butanol being the predominant species. Sixty-five volatile compounds were identified in B. officinalis seeds, with 2-pentanone, 2,3-dihydro-benzofuran, 3-methyl butanal, and hexanal being the most abundant species. Thirty-three compounds, including short-chain aliphatic aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones, were common to both seeds. The volatile composition of both seeds varied significantly depending on their respective origins. The volatile terpenoids borneol and (−)-camphor could be key bioactive contributors to the characteristic flavor and cooling effects of D. nankingense. For the first time, coumaran was identified as an abundant species in plant seeds.

Keywords: borneol, camphor, coumaran, seeds, volatile compounds