The volatile components in dry flower, leave, root and stem of Salvia miltiorrhiza were identified by the head-space solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. The results shown that the main volatile component was sesquiterpene in all of the four different parts, while following was aromatic and aliphatic compounds. In the sesquiterpene compounds, the content of β-caryophyllene (Beta-caryophyllene, BCP) was higher, and the ratio was 3616% in flower, 2222% in stem, and 541% in leaf, respectively; another sesquiterpene, germacrene D, was 425%, 461%, and 1305% in each part; and the percentage of bourbonene was 425%, 461%, 1305%. However, all the three sesquiterpene components were not detected from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Based on the analysis, the relative content of BCP, its isomers and oxidized derivatives in the volatile components was 5325% from Salvia miltiorrhiza dried flowers, 1884% from stems, 1305% from leaves. The distribution characteristics and pharmacological activities of BCP compounds have a certain practical value for development and utilization the part used for medical purpose from Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge; Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP); volatile components