Comparative Analysis of the Essential Oil and SPME-Headspace Aroma Compounds of Cyperus rotundus L. Roots/Tubers from South-India Using GC, GC-MS and Olfactometry

Abstract The composition of the essential oil as well as the corresponding SPME-headspace volatiles of Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperacae) roots/tubers from South-India were investigated by gas chromatographic-spectroscopic (GC-FID and GC-MS) and olfactoric methods. Especially sesquiterpenes were found to be dominating constituents of this essential root/tuber oil (concentrations higher than 4%, calculated as relative %-peak area of GC-FID analysis), with totally more than 90 compounds identified, and the SPME-headspace of C. rotundus (about 70 volatiles identified) as follows: α-copaene (11.4%), valerenal (9.8%), caryophyllene oxide (9.7%), cyperene (8.4%), nootkatone (6.7%) and trans-pinocarveol (5.2%) – essential oil; α-copaene (12.1%), cyperene (11.7%), valerenal (8.7%), caryophyllene oxide (7.8%), trans-pinocarveol (7.4%) and valencene (5.1%). The odor impression of of the essential oil is described and correlated with aroma attributes of single volatiles in the oil and SPME-headspace to get informations...