Several parameters have been varied to obtain the maximal amount of volatile compounds in the extract: purging time, addition of water, flow rate of purging gas, heating of the sample up to 80 C, cryotrap or three different sorbent traps, various elution solvents. The total concentration of the compounds initially increased with the increasing purge time up to 2 h and then remained relatively constant. The purge time was thus set to 3–4 h to allow for the slow desorption of compounds from the buckwheat sample. Influences of water addition and previous overnight soaking of buckwheat sample were studied with the aim to achievemore repeatable results and greater transfer of compounds to the vapour phase. There was an obvious improvement of transfer with the addition of water (Fig. 1A), while no additional effect was observed from overnight soaking. Flow rate of purging gas was varied from 20 to 50 ml/min, in conjunction with the heating of the sample up to 80 C, but not higher, because of possible thermal degradation. Highest concentration of compounds in the extract was obtained with the highest temperature and flow rate of 50 ml/min (Fig. 1B), which allowed for better mass transfer from the purging gas to the sorbent trap. Flow rates higher than 100 ml/min gave worse results.