The volatile oils were prepared from Calendula officinalis by headspace liquid phase microextraction (HSLPME) and steam distillation (SD). Their constituents were analyzed and identified by gas chromatographymass spectrometry combined with computer retrieval

and were quantified by calculating the relative contents basing on the peak areas normalization method. The results showed that fifteen components were identified for the volatile oil extracted by HS-LPME

and thirtyone components were identified for that extracted by SD. However

the main components obtained from both methods were found to be quite similar. Among the fourteen mutual components

α-cadinol

τ-Muurolol

τ-cadinene

δ-cadinene

α-muurolene were the main components

occupied 93.43% and 87.18% of the total volatile oils prepared by HS-LPME and SD

respectively. It was also observed that there were no significant differences in the relative contents of these five components between the two methods.