Comparison of laurus nobilis extracts composition obtained by microwave extraction, supercritical fluid extraction and steam distillation

A comparison of chemical composition of bay laurel extracts obtained by microwave extraction, supercritical fluid extraction and steam distillation was performed. Microwave extraction and steam distillation were shown to give similar essential oils. Microwave extract contains more monoterpenoid components, especially hydrocarbons. Steam distillation oil contains more sesquiterpenoid compounds, mostly oxygenated. SFE extract composition differs substantially from the ones obtained by two other methods. According to GC-MS data they contain much more sesquiterpenoid components, namely sesquiterpene lactones. This makes SFE a perspective candidate for isolation of biologically active compounds from laurel leaves. However, apart from valuable compound SFE extracts also contain substantial amounts of waxes as well as large quantities of some non-volatile component undetectable via GC-MS. In order to implement SFE into the practice of laurel processing one has to develop an approach for the fractionation of SFE extracts allowing isolating sesquiterpene lactone enriched fraction.