Dynamic change of essential oil content and increment in different organs of Atractylodes lancea

Content change and distribution model of essential oil in root, rhizome, leaf, stem, fruit and flower of two-year-old Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. from Yingshan of Hubei Province at different development stages were studied and relationship between essential oil content and increment was discussed. The results showed that all organs contained essential oil, and mainly existed in rhizome with a percentage of 81.79% of total content of essential oil in whole plant. Atractylon, hinesol, β-eudesmol, selina-4(14),7(11)-dien-8-one and atractylodin were main constituents of essential oil with a percentage of 94.53% of its total content in rhizome. Total content of hinesol and β-eudesmol were higher with a percentage of 74.85% in five main constituents. The formation and dynamic change of five main constituents in different organs were various. Essential oil in rhizome accumulated slowly in eariler period of vegetative growth and reproductive growth stage, while fast in later period. It is suggested that the optimal harvest stage of A. lancea is middle and last ten-days of November in Nanjing.