The volatile components in Panax quinquefolius L. under
heat-drying and freeze-drying conditions were studied using gas chromatography-ion
mobility spectrometry. A total of 52 volatile components were identified in Panax
quinquefolius L., including 11 kinds of alcohols, 8 kinds of ketones, 12
kinds of aldehydes, 5 kinds of pyrazines, 5 kinds of esters, 4 kinds of acids,
and 2 kinds of alkenes, etc.,based on the retention time of gas chromatography
and drift time of ion mobility spectrometry. Principal component analysis
showed that the volatile components in Panax quinquefolius L. were
significantly influenced by the drying methods. In comparison with freeze-dried Panax quinquefolius L., the mass fractions of esters, acids, ketones,
alkenes, and pyrazines in heat-dried Panax quinquefolius L. increased,
while those of aldehydes and alcohols decreased. The mass fractions of certain
esters (ethyl lactate, ethyl propionate, ethyl-2-methylpropionate, and pentyl
acetate), acids (2-methylbutanoic acid), ketones (2-pentanone, hydroxyacetone,
and pentane-2,3-dione), alkenes (styrene and α-pinene) and pyrazines (2,6-dimethylpyrazine,
2-ethylpyrazine, and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine) in the heat-dried Panax
quinquefolius L.significantly increased. Moreover, the mass fractions of aldehydes
(octanal, furfural, n-nonanal, heptanal, and (E)-2-heptenal) and alcohols (n-hexanol,
(E)-3-hexene-1-ol, and (Z)-3-hexene-1-ol) in the freeze-dried Panax
quinquefolius L.significantly increased.