Characterization of volatile compounds in Paeonia lactiflora Pall seed oil by Heracles NEO ultrafast E-nose and GC-IMS under different processing methods

Abstract

Objective: This study characterized the volatile profiles of Paeonia lactiflora seed oil obtained by various extraction and refining methods, and identified key odor markers distinguishing these processing conditions. Materials and methods: The Heracles NEO ultrafast electronic nose (Heracles NEO E-nose) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) were employed to analyze volatile compounds in Paeonia lactiflora seed oil produced by different extraction and refining stages. Results: A total of 15 odor-active compounds were detected by the Heracles NEO E-nose and 78 volatile components were identified by GC-IMS. Chemometric analysis further identified six odor markers differentiating extraction methods and four markers distinguishing refining stages. GC-IMS analysis revealed 20 differential volatile markers associated with both extraction methods and refining stages. Conclusion: Integrating Heracles NEO E-nose and GC-IMS analyses provided a comprehensive understanding of the volatile components in Paeonia lactiflora seed oil. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing processing conditions and improving quality control of Paeonia lactiflora seed oil.