Analysis of the fatty acid from Bupleurum Chinense DC in China by GC-MS and GC-FID.

Fatty acid of the root of the medicinal plant of Bupleurum Chinense DC in China has been investigated by gas chromatography combined with mass spectroscopy. After methyl-esterification, eight fatty acid compositions were identified by GC-MS. A simple and rapid determination of the fatty acid has been firstly developed by GC-FID. The derivatization condition was investigated in order to validate this method. Palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid were analyzed simultaneously by internal standard method. The validity of method has been examined both experimentally with good recovery, intra-assay precisions and linearity. The quick and accurate method of capillary gas chromatography could be used for the analysis of the fatty acid from Bupleurum Chinense DC.