[Studies on expectorant compounds in volatile oil from root and rhizome of Aster tataricus].

Objective: To research the expectorant components in volatile oil from the root and rhizome of Aster tataricus.

Method: GC-MS was applied to isolate and identify the compounds. In addition, TLC was used to isolate compound, and its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectral data analysis. At the same time, its expectorant effect was observed by method of the excretion quantity of phenol red in trachea of mice.

Result: Seven compounds were isolated and identified by GC-MS, they were (R)(-)-p-menth-1-en-4-ol (1), 2-undecanone (2), n-decanoic acid (3), (-)-spathulenol (4), hexahydrofamrnesyl acetone (5), hexadecanoic acid (6), and cis-9, cis-12-octaecadienoic acid (7). A known compound 1-acetoxy-2-ene(E)-4,6- decandiyne was isolated from the root and rhizome of A. tataricus, and it was shown to have expectorant effect.

Conclusion: 1-Acetoxy-2-ene(E) -4,6- decandiyne, a main compound in volatile oil, had been found to have expectorant effect.