Chemical composition of absolute and supercritical carbon dioxide extract of Aframomum melegueta

The compositions of absolute and supercritical CO2 extract of Aframomum melegueta were analysed by GC and GC–MS; 33 components, representing more than 98.3% of the absolute, and 43 components, representing more than 98.2% of the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) product, were identified. The major components were, in the absolute and SFE product, respectively, [6]‐paradol (35.1 and 13.3%), [6]‐shogaol (21.5 and 6.1%), [6]‐gingerdione (9.8 and 28.0%), α‐humulene (10.5 and 7.2%) and [6]‐gingerol (1.3 and 10.0%). However gingerols are thermally unstable and can decompose under high temperature during GC analysis, therefore HPLC was used for oleoresins analysis and phenyl alkenones quantification. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.