Comparative Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils from Hedyotis Diffusa WILLD and Its Adulterants Hedyotis Corymbosa Lam by GC-MS

Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (Baihuasheshecao) is an ingredient of herbal commonly consumed in China for cancer treatment and health maintenance. In the market, this ingredient is frequently adulterated by the related species Hedyotis corymbosa Lam. The objective of this comparative research is to study the chemical composition of the essential oils from Hedyotis diffusa WILLD and its adulterants Hedyotis corymbosa Lam by GC-MS. In total, 43 components were identified in Hedyotis diffusa Willd. The identified components comprised 11 alcohols, 7 alkenes, 5 ketones, 7 aldehydes, 6 acid substances, 2 esters, 5 other substances. The major components in the Hedyotis diffusa WILLD oil were Hexadecanoic acid (48.89%) followed by Pentadecanoic acid (6.11%), D-Limonene (5.74%) and fatty acid were the most abundant components in Hedyotis diffusa WILLD. 32 components were identified in Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. The identified components comprised 2 alcohols, 8 alkenes, 4 ketones, 1 aldehyde, 6 acid substances, 6 esters, 5 other substances. The major components in the Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam oil were Hexadecanoic acid (64.93%) followed by Linolenic acid (7.62%), Linoleic acid (3.73%). Borneol, 2-Carene epoxide, cis-Anethol, three compounds were identified exclusively in Hedyotis diffusa Willd. This study showed that the chemical composition of the essential oils from Hedyotis diffusa WILLD and its adulterants Hedyotis corymbosa Lam GC-MS were different. Borneol, 2-Carene epoxide, cis-Anethol, three compounds were identified exclusively in Hedyotis diffusa Willd. This study is significant for better quality control of this common herbal ingredient.