Direct identification of volatile compounds in the artificially cultivated and wild Chinese medicinal materials (Semiliquidambar cathayesis) by headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry.

Semiliquidambar cathayesis (SC) is often used as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the market, and its wild resources are now severely damaged and on the verge of extinction. In order to preserve and apply SC resources preferably, artificially cultivated SC is generated. In the present study, the variations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the artificially cultivated and wild SC were analyzed by headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) combined with principal component analysis (PCA). The medicinal value of artificially cultivated SC was determined by comparing the differences between these SCs. The results showed that the artificially cultivated and wild SCs had the same composition for the VOCs, and the VOCs in the bark and stem used to adjust the efficacy of liquid medicine in SCs were not significantly different. Collectively, the findings provided a scientific theory for the application of artificially cultivated SC and the replacement of wild SC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]