Comparison on Volatile Oil Content and Chemical Constituents Among Different Parts of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Pieces with Different Processing Methods / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To compare the difference of the content of volatile oil and the total relative percentage of phthalein compounds in volatile oil among different parts about Ligusticum chuanxiong, or among different decoction pieces with different processing methods. Method:Steam distillation was used(in the extraction of volatile oil.The chemical constituents of the volatile oil were identified by GC-MS analysis, and relative content of each component was determined by normalization method. Result:The contents of volatile oil in different parts were obviously different, and the order of the contents from high to low was rhizome(1.12%)>fibrous root(0.75%)>aerial part(0.41%). The GC-MS analysis similar compounds find in the three different volatile oils, and the order of total relative percentages of phthalein compounds from high to low was roots(83.29%)>rhizomes(44.5%)>aerial part(39.95%). On the other hand, the volatile oil content of three different Chuanxiong Rhizoma pieces with different processing methods was C(0.87%)>A(0.75%)>B(0.7%). The total relative percentages of phthalein compounds analyzed by GC-MS was C(79.14%)>A(73.09%)>B(67.29%). Conclusion:The content of phthalein compounds in the volatile oil of fibrous root was higher than that of rhizome, thus it can be appropriately used.The volatile oil content and chemical composition of different Chuanxiong Rhizoma pieces were significantly different.The content of volatile oil and phthalein compounds in fresh-cut Chuanxiong Rhizoma pieces were the most high, thus fresh-cutting can be used as a new processing method for Chuanxiong Rhizoma pieces.