Solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the volatile components of Flos chrysanthemi indici in different growing areas

Headspace solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) has been applied to the determination of the volatile compounds of a common traditional Chinese medicine, Flos Chrysanthemi indici. Twenty-six compounds were identified by the present method, which are similar to the results from steam distillation. Difference in analysis from ten growing areas was found to be in their relative content and total concentrations. Four active compounds (cineole, 3-thujanone, borneol and bornyl acetate) were applied to the evaluation of the quality of Flos Chrysanthemi indici from different areas. By comparing their peak areas, it was found that Flos Chrysanthemi indici with the best quality was from Hangzhou in China. These results show that HS-SPME-GC-MS is a simple, rapid and solvent-free method for the analysis of the volatile compounds in this material and a potential tool for its quality assurance.