COMPARATIVE STUDY ON VOLATILE COMPOUNDS OF AGARWOOD FROM KHANH HOA PROVINCE EXTRACTED BY DIFFERENT METHODS

Agarwood from Aquilaria crassna cultivated in Khanh Hoa province was extracted by 5 methods, including simple, enzyme-assited, and microwave-assisted hydrodistillation, extraction with solvent and supercritical carbon dioxide. The volatile compounds of the products were analyzed by GC-MS. Almost all samples contain some common characteristic components, such as Valerianol, Agarospirol, Eudesmol , Eudesmol , 2-Allyl-4-methylphenol, Guaiol and Neopetasone. However, there were obvious differences in yields, composition, and number of identified components. The application of the more advanced methods for the extraction of agarwood resulted in saving of time and energy, and some improvement of product yield. However, these methods also lead to unconventional products with many unknown components, what requires further investigations.