Abstract: The volatile oil components from Atractylodes chinensis(DC.) Koidz. and Atractylodes lancea(Thunb.) DC. were analyzed by GC-MS. Forty-seven and fifty components were identified, respectively, and their relative contents were determined. The volatile oil components from Atractylodes chinensis(DC.) Koidz. and Atractylodes lancea(Thunb.) DC. were further compared with each other by using the Eight Strong Peaks and Dividing Sections of the chromatographic fingerprint methods. The total ionic current chromatograms were divided into five fingerprint sections on the basis of peak retention time. The results showed that the major active-components of Rhizoma Atractylodis are β-eudesmol, atractylon and atractylodin and they were identified with higher relative content in the Ⅳ and Ⅴ sections of the total ionic current chromatograms, suggesting that it was acceptable to combine Atractylodes chinensis(DC.) Koidz. and Atractylodes lancea(Thunb.) DC together as Rhizoma Atractylodis in the Pharmacopoeia of the People′s Republic of China.

Key words: Atractylodes chinensis(DC.) Koidz., Atractylodes lancea(Thunb.) DC., gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, volatile oil components