Analysis of constituents of Iris rhizomes. Part II. Simultaneous SFE of irones and iridals from Iris pallida L. rhizomes

Abstract Iridals constitute a class of triterpenoids characteristic of the Iris genera which have been demonstrated to be the precursors of irones, a class of terpenoids widely and successfully used in the perfume industry, owing to their attractive smell of violets. Off‐line SFE–CGC and SFE–HPLC were applied to the simultaneous extraction of irones and iridals from Iris pallida L. rhizomes. SFE was carried out by using MeOH/CO 2 as extraction medium, at 60°C and 218 bar. The results are compared to the classical methods of obtaining both the absolute by hydrodistillation, for irones, and the extract by solvent extraction, for iridals. Off‐line SFE–CGC and SFE–HPLC require smaller sample amounts and provide quicker sample production and handling, and higher iridal but lower irone recoveries.