TLC and GC analysis of the essential oils of Stachys species

Species of the Lamioideae subfamily of the family Lamiaceae, including Stachys species, do not contain much essential oil. The first stage of studying the volatile components of Stachys species was characterization of n-hexane extracts by TLC, with sabinene, limonene, linalool, and beta-caryophyllene as test materials. On the basis of these results we then studied the volatile compounds by use of GC-FID and GC-MS. By examination of the TLC plates, use of Kovats retention indices, and MS library search we identified components of essential oil fractions obtained from Stachys officinalis II. (L.) Trev., Stachys alpina L., Stachys macrantha (Koch) Stearn, Stachys palustris L., Stachys recta L. subsp. recta, and Stachys annua L. (from Vacratot) by vapor distillation in accordance with Hungarian Pharmacopoeia VII.