Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis on compounds in volatile oils extracted from Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae) and Shi Chang Pu (Acorus Tatarinowii) by supercritical CO2

To analyze the constituents of volatile oils extracted from Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae), Shi Chang Pu (Acorus Tatarinowii), and a mixture of the two herbs. The volatile oils were extracted using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2, and the constituents of the volatile oil extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The relative content of each component was calculated using peak area normalization. The optimized SFE conditions were 45 MPa at 35°C for 2 h. Twenty-four compounds were identified in the extract from the Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae) and Shi Chang Pu (Acorus Tatarinowii) mixture, and six of these had relative contents >1. These compounds were 1,2-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)-benzene; 1,2,3-trimethoxy-5-(2-propenyl)-benzene; β-asarone; (Z, Z) 9,12-octadecadienoic acid; (Z) 6-octadecenoic acid; and ethyl oleate. Combination of the herbs increased the number of pharmacologically active substances in the extract and decreased the number of compounds with one benzene ring compared with the extracts from the individual herbs. These results indicate there is a synergistic relationship among the compounds in these herbs.