Gas chromatography and Aromatogram

To identify the complete composition of an essential oil and then accurately and scientifically declare its nature and quality, an in-depth analysis is used called gas chromatography which is usually coupled to mass spectrometry. This mixed method, providing high sensitivity and specificity, structurally identifies the molecules contained in 100% pure essential oil from a qualitative-quantitative perspective which is indispensable for chemical typing with regards to botanical identity and can also reveal the presence or not of contaminants or foreign substances that can frustrate the quality of the product and / or adulterate it. For each essential oil and for each batch produced, FLORA carries out this analysis before putting it on the market. From this test the chemotype of the essential oil and all the other necessary chemical components of the oil for the therapist to treat various ailments are ascertained. This is why we write the four or five main chemical components of the essential oil on the label.

The Aromatogram: a rediscovered technique implemented before treatment

An in vitro method of measuring the antibacterial power of essential oils towards a specific strain of pathogenic bacteria isolated from a sick patient. In the mid-1950s, numerous researchers (including Valnet, Belaiche and Lapraz) studied the bactericidal power of 175 aromatic essences. From these researches, using a laboratory method called the Aromatogram, an "aromatic index" was developed. Essential oils can block some metabolic functions of the germ such as growth and reproduction and determine the lysis of the germ. This type of analysis is carried out before treating infectious diseases which are often also resistant to antibiotics.

FLORA sends the essential oils to and, importantly, relies on suitable laboratories which carry out the Aromatogram which is now more sophisticated with the determination of other quantitative markers thanks to the possibility of carrying out the analysis in the liquid phase or, better still, on microplates taking care of both the accurate preparation of the microbial inoculum and the emulsion of the essential oils in the culture broth.

For those who want to know more, the following bibliography has more detail: 

  • Paul Belaiche, The Aromatogram Vol. I
  • Paul Belaiche, Infectious Diseases Vol. II
  • Paul Belaiche, Gynecology, Vol. III
  • Jean Valnet, Healing with the essences of plants
  • Jean Valnet, Phytotherapy heal with plants

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