Improvement of the quality of analytical results generated by GC/MS method for characterization of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don essential oil

Abstract

Most of the papers that treat the composition of essential oils for this purpose use GCMS or GCMS and GC-FID techniques for the identification and/or quantification of individual compounds. Therewithal, papers usually treat the composition as semi-quantitative (percentage composition as the area of ​​the peak of a particular compound in relation to the total area of ​​the peaks on the chromatogram, given as 100%). At the same time, the quality of the results is not treated in metrological terms. A GCMS method for the quantification of components present Helichrysum italicum hydro-distilled essential oil samples from Bosnia and Herzegovina with a similar composition was developed and optimized. The stability of the method set-up and adequacy of sample storage and manipulation was assessed. Calibration method and assessment of measurement uncertainty was established for neryl acetate, one of the major compounds with known health benefits.