Chemical composition of fennel seed extract and determination of fenchone in commercial formulations by GC–MS method

Abstract

In the present study, various phytoconstituents of methanolic extract of Foeniculum vulgare were identified using gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. GC-MS method was also applied for the analysis of biomarker fenchone in extract and eight different commercial formulations. The mass of prepared extract and formulations A-D and H (commercial herbal mixtures and commercial extract) used for the analysis of fenchone was 10 g. However, the mass of formulations E-G (soft gelatin capsules) was 100 mg. Fifty seven different phytoconstituents were identified in the methanolic extract of F. vulgare using GC-MS technique. The main compounds identified were trans-anethole (31.49%), 2-pentanone (25.01%), fenchone (11.68%) and benzaldehyde-4-methoxy (8.01%). Several other compounds were also identified in higher amounts and some compounds were identified in trace amounts. Many compounds have been reported for the first time in the methanolic extract of F. vulgare. The amount of fenchone was found to be maximum in plant extract (9.789 mg/g) in comparison with other commercial formulations by the proposed GC-MS technique. In three different commercial formulations (F, G and H), the amount of fenchone was obtained as more than 1.0 mg/g. However, in five different commercial formulations (A, B, C, D and E), the amount of fenchone was recorded as less than 0.1 mg/g. This method could be utilized for the analysis of fenchone contents in the commercial formulations containing fenchone as an active ingredient. The results obtained in this work could be useful in standardization of commercial formulations containing fenchone.

Determination of Trans-Anethole in Essential Oil, Methanolic Extract and Commercial Formulations of Foeniculum vulgare Mill Using a Green RP-HPTLC-Densitometry Method

“…Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill; family: Apicaceae) is a biennial or perennial medicinal herb [1]. The main components of fennel seeds are essential oils which are important flavoring agents [1][2][3]. Various therapeutic activities in essential oils of fennel, such as "antioxidant [4][5][6][7], anti-inflammatory [7], analgesic [7], hepatoprotective [8], diuretic [2], antimicrobial [9], antibacterial [2,10,11], antifungal [12], antidiabetic [13], neuroprotective [14] and anti-tumor activities [15]," have been reported in the literature.…”

A HPTLC Method for Determination of Anethole in Essential Oil, Methanolic Extract of Foeniculum vulgare and Commercial Herbal Products

“…All these pharmacological activities are may be due to the medically active compounds, e.g. flavonoids, fatty acids, phenolics, and high complex protein known as phytochemicals [6,7]. The essential oil of fennel has composed ~ 87 volatile compounds [7][8].…”

“…The main volatile compounds have reported earlier from F. vulgare are anethol, methyl chavicol, fenchone and limonene as well as piperitenone and piperitenone oxide [9]. Among them, a GC/MS study revealed that anethole is the most abundant compound present in fennel essential oil [6]. The anethole is a monoterpene, a naturally existing aromatic compound isolated in fennel, tarragon, and basil [10].…”

“…Recent past, many researchers have been conducted to identify and quantify the exact concentration of bioactive molecules in the essential oil of fennel from different origins or regions have different concentration [1,6,11]. Due to adulteration or their geographical origin the active metabolites are either metabolites are not detected or found in low amount of anethole which affect their quality.…”

HR‐1H NMR spectroscopy and multivariate statistical analysis to determine the composition of herbal mixtures for infusions

“…Phytochemical analysis of Foeniculum vulgare showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenes, alkaloids, and saponins. 20 The fennel characteristic flavours can be attributed to trans-anisole, estragole, and 1-octen-3-ol, 19 while the two major components of the essential oil are trans-anethol and fenchone. Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) leaves are rich in hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids.…”