Comparison in essential oil components of different varieties at varied altitudes of Paeonia rockii

  Objective  The composition of essential oil extracted from different altitudes and varieties of Paeonia rockii was studied, and the differences and similarities of the composition of compounds were also explored.

  Method  In this experiment, P. rockii essential oil was prepared from different altitudes of the same species and different varieties at same altitudes. The essential oil content and composition of P. rockii were analyzed.

  Result  The essential oil content in P. rockii of varied altitudes and varieties was different, in which, white P. rockii had the highest essential oil content, reaching 0.109% purple P. rockii was the next, reaching 0.103%, while the pink P. rockii in ground 3 had the lowest essential oil content of 0.075%. A total of 70 compounds were detected in three different altitude gradients (ground 1, ground 2, and ground 3), and 54, 53 and 57 compounds were detected in ground 1, ground 2, and ground 3, respectively. Main components were all geraniol (5.07%, 13.87%, 13.74%), tetradecane (5.99%, 9.86%, 7.25%),7-dodecen-1-ol-acetate (35.16%, 29.16%, 25.01%), dodecane (7.26%, 6.29%, 7.32%) and tricosane (8.00%, 6.36%, 8.11%). A total of 75 compounds were detected in essential oil extrated from three different varieties of P. rockii (white, pink, purple), and 59, 54 and 62 components were detected in white, pink and purple P. rockii, respectively. The main components were all geraniol (3.91%, 5.07%, 9.52%), tetradecane (15.93%, 5.99%, 8.96%), 7-dodecen-1-ol-acetate (19.79%, 35.16%, 22.91%), dodecane (12.40%, 7.26%, 6.60%) and tricosane (7.83%, 8.00%, 6.37%). Although the P. rockii essential oil of different varieties at varied altitudes was mainly composed of the above five components, yet the content varied greatly. At the same time, the other components in the essential oil also had great differences in type, quantity and content.

  Conclusion  This study can provide basic theoretical support for the selection of growth conditions, identification of types and the wide application of essential oil of P. rockii.