Quality evaluation of agarwood achieved through the GC-FID-based quantification of eudesmol isomers identified via SPME-GC/MS

초록

Agarwood resin (AWR) is a valuable natural material. However, its quality is generally evaluated through sensory assessment, resulting in inconsistent grading. We propose an objective analytical approach using alpha-, beta-, and gamma-eudesmol as chemical markers for AWR quality evaluation. Volatile compounds in nine AWR samples from Indonesia were analyzed using HS-SPME-GC/MS, and major sesquiterpenes, including selinene-and eudesmol-related compounds, were tentatively characterized based on mass spectral library matching. A GC-FID method for quantitative analysis was established and validated. It showed excellent linearity (R-2 = 1.000) and acceptable intra-day precision, expressed as repeatability (RSD < 2.7%). Accuracy was evaluated at three concentrations, and recovery rates were 101.9-102.8% for gamma-eudesmol, 101.4-101.7% for alpha-eudesmol, and 98.9-101.3% for beta-eudesmol. Total eudesmol contents varied among samples, ranging from below the method LOD to 16.9 mg/g. The contents of heavy metals and 514 pesticide residues were within acceptable limits. This systematic analytical approach, combining qualitative profiling, quantitative marker analysis, and safety screening, can support the standardization, authentication, and food-related quality control of botanical and herbal raw materials such as AWR.

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