title: Analysis of the volatile organic compounds from leaves, flower spikes, and nectar of Australian grown Agastache rugosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The foraging choices of honey bees are influenced by many factors, such as floral aroma. The composition of volatile compounds influences the bioactivity of the aromatic plants and honey produced from them. In this study, Agastache rugosa was evaluated as part of a project to select the most promising medicinal plant species for production of bioactive honey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Headspace solid-phase microextraction HS-SPME /GC-MS was optimized to identify the volatile bioactive compounds in the leaves, flower spikes, and for the first time, the flower nectar of Australian grown A. rugosa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Methyl chavicol (= estragole) was the predominant headspace volatile compound in the flowers with nectar, flower spikes, and leaves, with a total of 97.16%, 96.74% and 94.35%, respectively. Current results indicate that HS-SPME/GC-MS could be a useful tool for screening estragole concentration in herbal products.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recently, estragole was suspected to be carcinogenic and genotoxic, according to the European Union Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. Further studies are needed on safe daily intake of Agastache as herbal tea or honey, as well as for topical uses.
authors.forename: Hanaa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamani
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, Health Innovations Research Institute, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Victoria, Australia. nitin.mantri@rmit.edu.au.
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mantri
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D031327:Agastache / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D001315:Australia; D001516:Bees; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D006722:Honey / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D057048:Plant Nectar / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction / Q000379:methods; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles; D010936:Plant Extracts; D057048:Plant Nectar; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C007633:estragole