Abstract:This study utilized gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS） and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to investigate the volatile components of tarragon. The results indicated that essential oil accumulation was a gradual process during the growth and development of tarragon on the southern slope of the Tianshan mountains. The detection results of GC-IMS showed that tarragon leaves contained 35 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with carbon chains ranging from C2~C10 , mainly including 6 terpenes, 12 aldehydes, 4 alcohols, 1 furan, 3 esters, 5 ketones, and 4 other substances, with significant differences among them. The detection of GC-MS identified 54 volatile organic compounds in tarragon essential oil, with carbon chains ranging from C7~C32 , including 16 terpenes, 12 alcohols, 9 esters, 4 phenols, and 2 aldehydes etc. GC-MS detected a relatively large number of species with higher relative molecular weight. The complementary use of GC-MS and GC-IMS technologies can provide comprehensive information on the volatile components of tarragon, offering new research perspectives for the development, utilization, analysis and detection of tarragon and its essential oils.
