Analysis of volatile oil in Rhizoma ligustici chuanxiong-Radix paeoniae rubra by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and chemometric resolution.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the volatile chemical components of the herbal pair Rhizoma Ligustici chuanxiong-Radix paeoniae rubra (RLC-RPR) and compare them with those of each of the herbs alone.


METHODS
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), a chemometric resolution technique using the heuristic evolving latent projections (HELP) method, and the overall volume integration method were used.


RESULTS
In total, 52, 38, and 61 volatile chemical components in RLC, RPR, and RLC-RPR essential oils were determined, respectively, accounting for 95.14%, 95.19%, and 89.68% of the total contents of essential oil of RLC, RPR, and RLC-RPR, respectively. The main volatile chemical components were butyldienephthalide (20.65%) and ligustilide (50.15%) for RLC; and n-hexadecanoic acid (20.18%), [Z,Z]9,12-octadecadienoic acid (30.11%), 2-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (17.08%) for RPR, and butyldienephthalide (14.80%), and ligustilide (38.91%) for RLC-RPR. The main volatile chemical components of RLC-RPR were almost the same as those of RLC, but the relative amounts were altered.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of volatile chemical components in RLC-RPR was almost equal to the sum of the number in the 2 constituent herbs, but the relative amounts were altered. Furthermore, an acid-base reaction takes place during the process of decocting the herbs. The data gathered in this study may be helpful for understanding the synergistic nature of this herb pair in traditional Chinese medicine.
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Research Center of Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
Xiao-Ru
XR
Li
Yi-Zeng
YZ
Liang
Fang-Qiu
FQ
Guo
D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D030004:Ligusticum / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D029596:Paeonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry
D009822:Oils, Volatile; D019308:Palmitic Acid; C027820:ligustilide; D015107:4-Butyrolactone