GC-MS based comparative study of the essential oils from YL2000 ethanol decoction

Authors analyzed the volatile components of the anti-cold drug YL2000 ethanol decoction, and investigate and compare the influence of water and ethanol extraction process on the volatile components of the combination product YL2000. The essential oils of YL2000 ethanol decoction were extracted by water steam distillation, and separated and identified by GC-MS. The components were calculated with the method of normalization and compared with the references-water extraction. Sixty-eight compounds were identified in the ethanol decoction of YL2000. When compared with the water decoction, the amount of fatty acids had decreased, whereas, the amount of terpenes had increased; in the meantime, carene and pinene, which were abundant in single herbs, were not detected. Authors believe that the ethanol decoction retains the property of water decoction on the one hand and reduces both carene and pinene on the other. It enriches terpenes and reduces fatty acids in the water decoction.