title: [Preliminary analysis of bitter substances in spica of Prunella vulgaris].
abstract: Volatile oil components and the contents and types of amino acid in spica of Prunella vulgaris were analysed by GC-MS and amino acid analyzer. Esters, fatty acids, aromatic hydrocarbon, ketone and several alcohol compounds were identified by mass spectrum comparison. In these ingredients, beta-ionone smelled aroma of cedar, raspberry, nerolidol showed weak sweet soft orange blossom flavor, neroli tasted sweet and fresh, nerolidol tasted sweet with light aroma of wood, hexadecanal showed a weak aroma of flowers and wax, alpha-sinensal had rich and fresh sweet orange flavor. To some extent, these types of aromatic substances can affect the taste of herbal tea or decoction made of Spica Prunellae. Among amino acids detected, natural amino acids accounted for a larger proportion, and those natural amino acids showed bitterness, slight bitterness, sourness (freshness), sweetness, slight sweetness, sourness (slight freshness). The results indicated that bitter and slightly bitter amino acids have the greatest impacts on the sense of Spica Prunellae.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Meng-Qian
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Qiao-Sheng
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Huan-Huan
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Rong-bo
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xiao-Dan
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Huan-Rong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D031347:Prunella / Q000737:chemistry*; D013649:Taste
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D009822:Oils, Volatile