Studies On Fingerprint Of Essential Oils From Medical Plants

Plant essential oil is a big group of active compounds in Chinese medicine. It is also the main substance studied in Plant Chemoecology.In this research, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC / MS ) was adopted for separation and identification of volatile components from some plants. Then, discussions were carried on relative fields based on this research.Main results from research date of 51 samples could be summarized as follows:1. Fingerprint research1) 36 kinds of plant essentials were disposed, fingerprint components were determined for the first time; Comparative analysis of 15 kinds of essential oils with references, and fingerprint components were determined also.2) Different parts and seasonal variation of 12 kinds of plant were discussed. Low content compositions which have high bioactivity could be regarded as fingerprint components; just as high content compositions which have seasonal stability and partial stability.2. Plant chemoecology research1) Discussions were carried out on 11 kinds of plants have obvious allopathy effect. They are Aconhum carmichaelii; Broussonetia papyrifera; Smilax davidiana; Smilaxglauco-china; Hemiboea henryi; Lygodium japonicum; Solarium lyratum ;Solarium nigrum; Mucuna smpervirens; Melia azedarach and Cuscutajaponica. They have the potential to become "biological pesticide^'.2) Plant species which distribute widely , are "chemical - suitable" plants; composition variation of essential oils is evident.3) Plants could be devided into three groups: " high-terpenes" plants (content of terpenes > 20%), "mid-terpenes "plants (20%> content of terpenes>10%) and " low-terpenes " (content of terpenes <5%). Most of " high-terpenes" plants are aroma plants. Most of " low-terpenes" plants have obvious allopathy effect. Content of terpenes are unstablein some plants (for example: Lophatherum gracile; Serissa serissoides ) . It shows that allopathy effect depends on metabolism intensity.4) Seasonal variation of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes of 2 plants (Hypericummonogynum-, Chimonanthus praeax ) were discussed. From spring to autumn, content ofmonoterpenes decrease constantly, but sesquiterpenes increase constantly.5) Plant VOCs can reflect environmental changes fast and dynamically. They are a kind of substances with important bio -information.3. Phytochernistry taxonomy researchPhytochemistry systematic relationship of three group of plants (includes Cupressaceae; tiriodencban Linn, and Smilax L.) was discussed Thuja appears to form a natural group with Okinawa, Platycladus, but heterogenic with Juniperus and Cupressus. Lirodendron chinense and Liriodendron tulipifera share a lot of components and appears to have same origin. Smilax china is particular than any other species in Smilax L. 4. Other conclusion1) GC/MS is a kind of popular equipment & technology for compositions separation and identification from plant essentials. It has important use in TCM fingerprint and Plant Chemoecology research.2) The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) of a certain plant is controlled by genetic factors and environmental factors also have important affection in this process. Genetic factors is the heoretic basement for Fingerprint chromatography and plant chemical-taxonomy. Envircpmental factors form the heoretic basement for plant chemoecology.3) "oxidation value" is put forward to evaluate relative amount oxygen-content compounds in a certain essential oil. Higher oxidation value reflects higher oxidation metabolism intension in some extent.4) 8 kinds of plants were put forward , which essential oils have economical value. They are: Ardisia japonica; Lysimachia hemsleyana; Lirodendron chinense; Liriodendron tulipifera; Pittosporum tobria; Hypericum monogynum; Pilea pumila and Calycanthus chinensis.5) Each TCM is a magic "compounds library". To apply "chaos theory" , "system approach" and "holism" is important in TCM modernization research.