Table 2 summarizes the data concerning the major aroma components of cardamom seed as determined by GC–MS method, which assisted identify 21 compounds among volatiles from cardamom extract in analysis time of 30 min. Of the identified volatiles -pinene, cineole, linalool, -terpinyle and terpinyle acetate received special interest in the present work as major characteristic aroma compounds. Chromatographic profile obtained was similar to that reported in the literature [7,8]. As no pure standard with known concentration was available in our laboratories the integrated area of the peaks was used to show the effect of extraction conditions on the content of the major volatile in recovered extracts. The maximum recovery of aroma compounds was attained at 100 bar and 35 ◦C using CO2. Similar values were recorded for the major aroma components
with propane extraction at 5MPa and 298 K. Addition of alcohol
yielded oil extracts with unacceptable weak aroma profile