The potential production of aromatic compounds in flowers of Vanda tricolor

Vanda tricolor is a famous natural orchid that has beautiful flowers with fragrance, therefore analysis of aromatic compounds of this orchid are important. The objective of this research was to isolate and identify the aromatic compounds of Vanda tricolor flower. The flower petals were picked at various developmental stages (0,4,7, and 10 days of flower opened) at 12.00 noon. It was then extracted using solvent extraction method and enfleurage method. The hexane:acetone (9:1) extract was considered as concrete extract, while some parts of concrete that were further extracted with ethanol, considered as absolute extract. The olive oil extract was considered as enfleurage extract. Those extracts were then evaporated using nitrogen gas, and analyzed by GC/MS (GC/MS-QP 2010S Shimadzu, Agilent HP-5 MS UI column, 30 m ID length: 0.25 mm, Helium gas carrier). The results showed that aromatic compounds composition in Vanda tricolor flower extracts were consisted of fatty acid derivates, monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, benzenoids, phenylpropanoids, hydrocarbons and other oxygenated compounds. The highest diversity of aromatic compounds were found at the 10^th days after floral opened, and the sensory test among those 3 (three) extracts showed that the absolute extract had more similarity with the original flower scent profile rather than the other extracts. This research showed that Vanda tricolor has potential production of aromatic compounds which was different compare to another species of Vanda.