Study on Stability of Atractylon in Volatile Oil of Atractylodes Macrocephala Koidz / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed to explore the stability of atractylon in volatile oil of A tractylodes macrocephala Koidz. under various conditions. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to determine the atractylon content and atractylenolide content of volatile oils. And the relative percentages of atractylone and a-tractylenolide were selected as indexes to measure the change of atractylon. The results showed that the atractylon in atractylodes volatile oil was unstable with the rate of atractylon decomp osition up to 12% in natural conditions on the 6th day. The condition was almost not changed at room temperature and avoiding light. Atractylodes volatile oil in tween-80 solution was unstable with the rate of atractylon decomposition up to 30% at room temperature and avoiding light on the 5th day. The condition was almost not changed in the freezing temperature and avoiding light. The atracty-lon in volatile oil in artificial gastric juice and artificial intestinal juice were unstable, which were in conformity with the first order kinetics. It was concluded that the stability of atractylon of volatile oil was different. The atractylon of volatile oil was relatively stable in dilute solution within 48 hours. The atractylon in volatile oil was stable than its pure solution.