A Review: Uses of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Technique for Analysis of Bioactive Natural Compounds of Some Plants

Chromatography is the term used to describe a separation technique in which a mobile phase carrying a mixture is caused to move in contact with a selectively absorbent stationary phase. It also plays a fundamental role as an analytical technique for quality control and standardization of phyto therapeuticals. Gas Chromatography is used in the separation and analysis of multi component mixtures such as essential oils, hydrocarbons and solvents. Various temperature programs can be used to make the readings more meaningful; for example to differentiate between substances that behave similarly during the GC process. Intrinsically, with the use of the flame ionization detector and the electron capture detector (which have very high sensitivities) gas chromatography can quantitatively determine materials present at very low concentrations. Plants are a rich source of secondary metabolites with interesting biological activities. In general, these secondary metabolites are an important source with a variety of structural arrangements and properties. Gas chromatography - specifically gas-liquid chromatography - involves a sample being vapourised and injected onto the head of the chromatographic column. The sample is transported through the column by the flow of inert, gaseous mobile phase. The column itself contains a liquid stationary phase which is adsorbed onto the surface of an inert solid. The principle of gas chromatography is adsorption and partition. Within the family of chromatography- based methods gas chromatography (GC) is one of the most widely used techniques. GC-MS has become a highly recommended tool for monitoring and tracking organic pollutants in the environment. GC-MS is exclusively used for the analysis of esters, fatty acids, alcohols, aldehydes, terpenes etc. It is the key tool used in sports anti-doping laboratories to test athlete’s urine samples for prohibited performanceenhancing drugs like anabolic steroids. Several GC-MS have left earth for the astro chemistry studies. As a unique and powerful technology the GC-MS provides a rare opportunity to perform the analysis of new compounds for characterization and identification of synthesized or derivatized compound.