Volatile Constituents of Shajin

Abstract

Shajin is a Chinese “medicine” which has been used as an expectorant and tonic. Two steam distilled oils were obtained from the dried roots of Korean shajin (Condonopsis lanceolata) and Chinese shajin (Adenophora stricta). These oils had a medical and a green note, and were investigated by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, respectively. A total of 70 compounds were identified from the neutral oils of Korean and Chinese shajin. The characteristic main constituents of Korean shajin were 2-acetylpyrrole, squalene, menthol and 5-methylfurfural, while those of Chinese shajin were paeonol, furfural, 2-acetylpyrrole and furfuryl alcohol. In addition, the acidic and phenolic fractions from Korean and Chinese shajin contained 16 and 3 compounds, and the main compounds were palmitic, linoleic acid and phenol, cresol, guaicol. Paeonol was isolated as the main compound from the phenolic fraction of Chinese shajin.