Comparative analysis of some active principles of herb plants by GC/MS

A rapid extraction procedure for fingerprint chromatogram of different type s of Mentha piperita L. (Labiatae family) is presented. The extracts were a nalysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/ MS). The main volatile compounds identified by the gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of M. piperita L, were menthol, menthone, isomenthon e, 1,8-cineole, menthyl acetate, limonene, beta-myrcene, carvone. M. piperi ta L, oil had the active principles: menthol, menthone, isomenthone, menthy l acetate, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, champhor, limonene, linalool, piperit one. M. crispa L. showed carvone as major component. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.