Comparison of essential oil composition of Artemisia argyi leaves at different collection times by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The leaves of Artemisia argyi have been used for a long time as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat many diseases such as asthma. The plant leaves were collected in August and October 2003. The effect of collection time on the volatile oil content and composition was studied by using headspace solid-phase microextraction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Thirty-six compounds including germacrene D, alpha-cubebene, c-cadinene, bornyl acetate, borneol, D-limonene, alpha-myrcene and alpha-phellandrene were identified and present in the plant leaves at different collection times. The total content of the essential oil collected in August was found to be close to that in October. Two active compounds of (Z)-hex-3-en-ol and bornyl acetate in the leaf sample collected in October were muck higher than those in August. The results show that October is the better time for collection of the plant leaves.