Submission Guidelines

last modified: 4/27/2010

These guidelines are meant for authors that would like to submit papers for publication in JEOR.

Description of JEOR

The Journal of Essential Oil Research (JEOR) is the major forum for the publication of essential oil research and analysis. Each issue includes studies performed on the chemical composition of some of the 20,000 aromatic plants known in the plant kingdom. Recognized by the I.S.I., JEOR's main areas of focus include:

Published six times per year, JEOR provides articles (Research Paper or Review) on the aromatic principles of a plant or its isolates and are directed toward furthering our readers' knowledge of the aromatic plant and animal kingdoms.

Publication Time

Manuscripts requiring only minor revision may be published within six months of submission. The average time before publication will be two months after a manuscript or its revision is deemed acceptable. If possible, manuscripts accepted as “Expedited Papers” are published within eight weeks.

Manuscript submission

All manuscripts must be submitted as a single file in electronic form (email); all graphics and tables can be integrated into the manuscripts at the end of the document after the main text. Text should contain an indication where authors wish to place Figures and Tables.

Manuscript should be emailed to: Prof. Luigi Mondello.

In order to speed up processing times, authors are strongly encouraged to prepare their manuscript using the JEOR Word Template.

Authors are encouraged to supply the names, addresses, and email addresses of 3-4 potential referees. Authors may also mention persons who they would prefer not to review their paper.

Submission Checklist

Preparation of Manuscript

Manuscripts must be written in English using American spelling. Manuscripts written in ambiguous English or otherwise incomprehensible, in the opinion of the Editor, will be returned to the authors with the request to resubmit once the language has been improved.

In order to achieve uniform presentation and to avoid unnecessary delays because of further inquiries, all authors are invited to observe these guidelines.

JEOR Word Template

The use of the JEOR Word Template allows authors to view their paper in a style close to the final printed form. All manuscripts will be fully typeset from the author's electronic files. It should be noted that due to defined typesetting standards and the complex requirements of electronic publishing, the Publisher will not always be able to exactly match the layout the author has submitted. The use of journal templates is preferable and its adoption will speed the publication process.

The elements of the template are:

Title

The Title should be concise and specific, describing the nature of the paper. If the paper has been previously reported in whole or in part at a scientific meeting, this should be stated as a footnote on the introductory page.

Authors' Names

The Authors' Names should have forename in full and middle initial(s) (e.g., Hubert H. Smith). Give full addresses for each author, and connect each author with an address. Do not list all of the authors and then all of their affiliations separately. Indicate with an asterisk the author to whom all correspondence concerning the manuscript should be sent. Specify very clearly the affiliation of each author.

Abstract

The Abstract is an important summary of the work because it is often the only portion of the paper read by abstracting journals. As a consequence, the abstract should be written so that it can be used verbatim in an abstracting journal. It should be a concise summary giving essential information, data, etc., and be intelligible without reference to the paper itself. No references to cited publications are permitted in the Abstract, nor should there be any numerical reference to a structure found in the text.

Key Word Index

The Key Word Index should provide relevant key words for both indexing and abstracting. For a specific plant, list species name and plant family name, and also common name if well known. For reports on the analysis of an essential oil, list "essential oil composition" and all the components found in amounts greater than 10%.

Introduction

The Introduction should present the object or reason for the investigation, and clearly states what is new in the paper submitted. A summary of the pertinent literature should be included; however, only the relevant work should be described in a brief, concise manner.

Experimental

The Experimental section should describe clearly and in sufficient detail the materials and methods used so that the experiment could be reproduced by others. Only new techniques need to be described fully, while known methods must have adequate references.

Results and Discussion

The Results should be presented in a clear, concise manner using tables and illustrations for clarity. Do not list tabular data in the text. Do not list significant data figures for which the level of experimentation error is unacceptable; e.g., for capillary GC data obtained from electronic integration, 1.4%, not 1.35 or 1.349% unless this is a mean of a large number of analyses. Following presentation of the results they should be discussed and interpreted where possible. The results of other studies of a similar or related nature should be compared with only the most pertinent data and can be listed in tabular form for comparative purposes.

References

The References must be numbered consecutively in the text (one reference per number) and should be typed in order on a separate page. Within the text, the reference should appear as follows: "…as described by Lincoln et al. (5)." A maximum of 30 references is suggested unless the manuscript is a review article. Recent review articles can be used as a substitute for all but the most pertinent original articles. All references must be typed in full, including all editors' names for book citations, using the following style:

  1. B. M. Lawrence, Essential Oils 1988–1991. Allured Publ. Corp., Carol Stream, IL (1993).
  2. B.M. Lawrence, A Study of the Monoterpene Interrelationships in the Genus Mentha with Special Reference to the Origin of Pulegone and Menthofuran. Ph.D. Thesis, Rijksuniversiteit, Groningen (1978).
  3. B.M. Lawrence and J.K. Morton, Cytological and Chemical Variation in Mentha. Paper No. AG/b-01, Vth International Essential Oil Congress, Sao Paulo, Brazil (1971).
  4. B.M. Lawrence, A further examination of the variation of Ocimum basilicum L. In: Flavors and Fragrances: A World Perspective. Edits., B.M. Lawrence, B.D. Mookerjee and B.J. Willis, pp. 161–170, Elsevier Sci. Publ. B.V., Amsterdam (1988).
  5. D.E. Lincoln, M.J. Murray and B.M. Lawrence, Chemical composition and genetic basis for the isopinocamphone chemotype of Mentha citrata hybrids. Phytochemistry, 8, 1857–1863 (1986).
  6. The International Fragrance Association Website. http://www.ifraorg.org/ (10 February 2010)

Acknowledgments

The number of acknowledgments should be kept to a bare minimum.

Footnotes

Footnotes should be kept to a minimum. They should be indicated by a superscript number.

GC Data

All reported GC analyses must contain a description of the analytical procedures used including the make and model number of the equipment, the column type and dimensions (e.g. OV-101 30 m x 0.22 mm fused silica capillary column, film thickness 0.25 μm; or 20 ft. x 3/4 inch stainless steel packed column, coated with 10% Carbowax 20 m on 80/100 mesh Chromosorb W NAW). The temperature programming conditions used along with carrier gas flow rate must be described. It is no longer sufficient to refer to a previous publication for a description of analytical conditions. A statement as to how the quantitative data was obtained should be included.

In summary:

Column: dimensions (length, internal diameter), manufacturer and location, type of column (packed, capillary, etc.), support material, film thickness.

Carrier gas: type, purity, flow-rate/linear velocity, inlet pressure and/or pressure programmes.

Temperatures: temperatures of injector, detector, oven (and temperature programmes)

e.g.: GC-FID analyses were carried out on a Shimadzu GC-2010 gas chromatograph operated with a split/splitless injector and a Shimadzu AOC-20i autoinjector (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan). Column: SLB-5MS (silphenylene polymer) 30 m x 0.25 mm x 0.25 μm film thickness (Supelco, Bellefonte, IL, USA). Temperature program: from 50°C-250°C (10 min) at 3°C/min. Injection temperature: 250°C. Injection volume: 1.0 μL. Inlet pressure: 100 kPa. Carrier gas: He, linear velocity (u): 30 cm/sec. Injection mode: split (50:1). FID (250°C): H2 flow: 50 mL/min; air flow: 400 mL/min; make up flow (N2/Air): 50 mL/min. Sampling rate: 40 msec. Data handling was carried out by means of GCsolution 2.3 (Shimadzu).

GC/MS Data

In Addition to compliance with the above GC instructions, add EI mode operating at 70 eV, scan time and acquisition mass range. Add modifier if operating in CI mode. Specify type of mass analyzer, Scan mode. Detection conditions, ions monitored in SIM and dwell time.

e.g.: GC/MS analyses were performed with a Shimadzu GCMS-QP2010 model gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer equipped with an AOC-20i autoinjector. Column: SLB-5MS, 30 m x 0.25 mm ID x 0.25 μm film thickness. Temperature program: from 50°C (2 min) to 250°C (10 min.) at 3°C/min. Injection temperature: 250°C. Injection volume: 1.0 μL. Inlet pressure: 37.1 kPa. Carrier gas: He, linear velocity (u): 32.4 cm/sec. Injection mode: split (10:1). MS interface temp.: 250°C; MS mode: EI; detector voltage: 0.9 kV; mass range: 40-400 u; scan speed: 769 u/s; interval: 0.50 s (2 Hz). Data handling was made through GCMSsolution 2.5 (Shimadzu).

HPLC Data

All reported HPLC analyses must contain a description of the analytical procedures used including the make and model number of the equipment, the column type and dimension (e.g. RP-18 150 x 2.1 mm HPLC column packed with particles of 5 μm). The solvents used, column temperature, flow rate and gradient program/isocratic conditions must be described. Type of detector used, and specific conditions used. It is no longer sufficient to refer to a previous publication for a description of analytical conditions.

e.g.: HPLC separation was carried out on a Shimadzu system equipped with two LC 10 AD Vp pumps, an SPD-M10 Avp UV detector, a SCL-10-Avp controller, a CTO-20AC column oven thermostated at 30°C and a degasser DGU-14A, data were acquired and processed by LC-solution ver 3.3 software. The column used was an Ascentis Express C18 150 mm x 4.6 mm i.d. with particle size of 2.7 μm (Supelco, Bellefonte, PA). The injection volume was 2 μl, mobile phase consisted of Water, Acetonitrile, THF (85:10:5) (solvent A) and Acetonitrile, Methanol, THF (65:30:5) (solvent B), the linear gradient profile was as follow: 0-5 min, 0% B, 5-25 min, 0-40% B, 25-45 min, 40-90% B, 45-55 min, 90% B, 55-60 min, 0% B. Flow-rate was 1.0 mL/min, data were acquired using a photodiode array detector in the range 190-370 nm and the chromatograms were extracted at 315 nm. Time constant was 0.64 s and sample frequency 1.5625 Hz. Data acquisition was performed by Shimadzu LC solution software ver 3.3.

HPLC/MS Data

In Addition to compliance with the above HPLC instructions, specify inlet system, source (vaporizer and capillary temperature, nebulising, auxiliary or ionizing gases, source voltage, CID voltage), mass analyzer (scan mode, resolution and mass range), detection.

Spectra

The inclusion of MS, IR or NMR spectra of uncommon or newly characterized compounds is encouraged. If no adequate MS or IR spectrum of a compound can be found in the readily accessible literature, then its inclusion is also encouraged.

Chromatograms

The inclusion of a chromatogram adds substantial value to the paper, the incorporation of chromatographic profiles is encouraged.

Tables

Tables should be double-space typed in the same form as the manuscript and should be numbered using Roman numerals; however, they should not be formatted within the text but should be included as an attachment, at the end of the article. Each table should be on a separate page. The inclusion of retention indices in tables of components identified is encouraged whereas the inclusion of retention times is not. Unless the quantitative data is an average of more than 5 analyses, only one decimal place is acceptable. Averages of more than 5 analyses can be presented in two decimal places. Tables should be typed as word documents only, using tabs, and not the space bar. Tables should be typed using Microsoft Word program only. Do not use programs like Excel to create tables, because eventually when you send the article to us on disk, we are not able to read anything that is created with cells.

Keep the number of columns in a table as few as possible and keep the titles or headings concise. Essential details in the title can be added as a footnote to the table. The compounds must be listed in the table in elution order from the GC column. Compounds that can exist in isomeric form that have not been fully characterized should have an asterisk and footnote stating "correct isomeric form not identified." Unknowns, tentatively identified compounds or those partially characterized as, for example, "sesquiterpene hydrocarbon," can only be included in the table if the MS data is included as a footnote to the table.

Figures

Figures can be high quality photographic prints or camera-ready original diagrams, graphs or drawings. Spectra or chromatograms should be presented as high quality photographic prints or camera-ready computer drawn representations. All figures should be accompanied by a descriptive phrase or sentence typed on a separate page. All figure captions can be listed on the same page. The size of figures submitted should not exceed 6 x 10 inches.

Chemical Nomenclature

Use generally accepted chemical nomenclature. For example, the use of trivial terpene names is recommended: α-pinene, spathulenol, β-bourbonene, etc. For IUPAC names, the author is requested to determine whether there is a trivial name for the compound; if there is, it should be used.

Species Names

All experimental plants listed must be given their correct taxonomic classification, including the author citation; e.g., Micromeria teneriffae Benth. Once cited in the text, the following reference to the species can be written as M. teneriffae. Depositing a voucher specimen of each plant species in the herbarium of a reputable university or institution is mandatory for all plants collected from the wild state. Also, if other Micromeria species are mentioned after the genus has been introduced, then they may be cited as follows: M. benthamii: Webb. & Berthel., M. biflora Benth., etc. When a sentence commences with a species name, the species should be written in full, i.e. Micromeria biflora, not M. biflora.

Structural Formulae

All structural formulae should be drawn with the aid of a graphics software package, dry transfers, a template, or some accurate structural design facsimile. Under each structure should be a boldface number. This is the same number that should appear in the text in bold (within square brackets) after the compound has been named; e.g., 4-ketoisophorone [8]. The inclusion of structural formulae of known compounds is discouraged unless they are considered to be essential for a better understanding of the text.

NMR Data

NMR Data must be specified as either 1H-NMR or 13C-NMR. It is necessary to state the frequency of the instrument, the solvent used, and the internal standard. Chemical shifts should be noted in δ (ppm) values relative to TMS. The type of signal should also be noted; e.g., singlet s, doublet d, triplet t, multiplet m, etc. Two examples of NMR data presentation are:

  1. 1H-NMR (250 CDCl3/TMS): δ 0.87(d, CH3), δ 0.89(d, CH3), δ 1.28(s, CH3OH), δ 1.93(bm, CH2OH), δ 5.63(bs, HC=CH).
  2. 13C-NMR (25.15 MHz CDC13): δ 67.9(C-1), δ 134.0(C-2), δ 133.7(C-3), δ 42.6(C-4), δ 22.7(C-5), δ 37.7(C-6), δ 32.3(C-7), δ 32.1(C-8), δ 20.1(C-9), δ 19.1(C-10)—a decoupled experiment. If coupled experiments are performed, then the type of signal should be included.

MS Data

Presentation of data should indicate the method used; e.g., MS (this is for EIMS), CIMS, GC/MS, and the ionizing energy. An example of data presentation can be seen as follows: MS, 70 eV, 210°C, m/z(rel. int.): 154[M]+(6), 139(28), 136(20), 121(22), 111(27), 93(100), 84(30), 79(50), 77(48), 71(45), 69(35), 55(22), 43(37).

Qualitative Analysis/Identification of Compounds

Compound identification must be supported by at least two methods of analysis. They can be mass spectrometry and gas chromatography with calculation of retention indices. Retention Indices should be included in the tabular data and compared to literature data obtained on the same stationary phase.

Some available databases of LRI are suggested here:

Quantitative Analysis/Composition of the Sample

Authors may report simple GC percentages obtained using FID or TCD as detector, assuming response factors equal to unity for all the components. This procedure is not possible if mass spectrometer and NPD are used as detectors. Authors are strongly encouraged to provide a true quantification at least of major components (greater than 10% of the whole oil) of the analyzed sample. If standards are not commercially available, for the measurement of response factors, compounds can be grouped into chemical classes (hydrocarbons, aldehydes, etc.) and subclasses (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, etc.) and semi-quantification can be carried out using one (or more) pure standard for each class of similar components. Refer to "Results and Discussion" paragraph for an appropriate number of significant figures to be reported.

Abbreviations

Standard abbreviations should be used throughout the manuscript, particularly in the experimental section. Some examples of common abbreviations are:

°C, IR, GC, GC/MS, HPLC, TLC, FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, CD, λmax (solvent), [α]D Temp, nm, cm-1, μL, °C/min, μm, kg/ha, mL, L, mg, min, eV, ppm, FID, TC, EC, etc. (Note: No periods are needed).

Copyright

The copyright of all papers remains the property of the author unless transferred to JEOR, but the Journal has the sole right of publication for a period of six months from the date of publication. Papers appearing in JEOR may be published elsewhere after the six-month grace period has elapsed, provided that acknowledgment of the original publication is given.

Manuscript Checklist

Proofs

Prior to publication, galley proofs will be sent to the contact author for checking. Corrections should be restricted to typographical or similar errors. Modifications to the original text should be avoided at all costs, otherwise the publication of the article will be seriously delayed. Galley proofs should be returned to the publisher within three days of receipt. Please provide e-mail address to receive proof.

Reprints

The contact author will be e-mailed a PDF file of the paper to use for a limited number of reprints. To order additional reprints of the article, please check with the publisher regarding the prices.