ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the influences of ether soaking method, solven t refluxing method and steam distilling method on the content and chemical compo nents of volatile oil from Lignum Santali. Methods Gas chromatograph_mass sp ectrogram (GC_MS) analysis was adopted. Results The content of santalol in t he oi l from Lignum Santali extracted by ether soaking was a little higher than that i n the volatile oil extracted by steam distilling, and their chemical components are similar. The total content of volatile oil extracted by solvent refluxing me thod was 3.35%, much higher than that by steam distilling metho d. GC_MS analysis showed the content of santalol and other chemical components a re similar by the two methods. Conclusion Ether soaking method can be used f or the qualitative analysis of volatile oil from Lignum Santali. Extraction of s antalum oil by steam distilling method is incomplete.