Influence of volatile organic compounds from flower of Sorbaria kirilowii on open field behavior and abilities of learning and memory of rats

In order to make clear the environmental influences of plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from Sorbaria kirilowii on rats, the authors analyzed the composition and contents of VOCs in fresh flowers of S. kirilowii under near-natural conditions using the Thermal-desorption Cold Trap Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry (TCT-GC/MS) technique. The relative contents of 45 VOCs were detected. The rats were treated with different concentrations of fresh flowers of S. kirilowii and investigated on their behaviors within an open field and abilities of learning and memory in a water maze.Results showed that those VOCs restrained the rats in their environmental quest, excitement and motion. A low concentration had no obvious influence on the learning and memory ability of the rats, but a higher concentration exhibited an inhibiting effect. Among the VOCs of S. kirilowii the contents of nitrogenous compounds, such as trimethylamine, urea, N,N-dimethyl-,3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde were relatively high, which might dominate the behaviors and abilities of learning and memory of the rats.