Numerous terpenes present in essential oils (EOs) display one or more chiral centers. Within the same genus the enantiomeric ratio of these compounds can be different. Thus, the determination of enantiomers is a valuable tool to evaluate authenticity and quality of EOs. In here, the terpene profile of primary and commercial pine EOs was analyzed by conventional and chiral gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector. The enantiomeric excess of ( ±)-α-pinene was determined and significant differences between primary and commercially available EOs were observed. Primary EOs of Pinus sylvestris L. showed a positive enantiomeric excess of (+)-α-pinene whereas commercial EOs labeled as P. sylvestris L. exhibited an enantiomeric excess of (−)-α-pinene. Thus, chiral analysis provides useful information on the authenticity of pine EOs and allows to uncover possible mislabeling, the use of the wrong herbal substance and sources of adulteration in pine oil.

Chromatographic profiles of primary essential oils (EO) deliver valuable authentic information about composition and compound pattern. Primary EOs obtained from Pinus sylvestris L. (PS) from different global origins were analyzed using gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and identified by GC hyphenated to mass spectrometer (GC-MS). A primary EO of PS was characterized by a distinct sesquiterpene pattern followed by a diterpene profile containing diterpenoids of the labdane, pimarane or abietane type. Based on their sesquiterpene compound patterns, primary EOs of PS were separated into their geographical origin using component analysis. Furthermore, differentiation of closely related pine EOs by partial least square discriminant analysis proved the existence of a primary EO of PS. The developed and validated PLS-DA model is suitable as a screening tool to assess the correct chemotaxonomic identification of a primary pine EOs as it classified all pine EOs correctly.