Abstract: In order to explore the effects of high-energy electron beam irradiation on the volatile components of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, changes in its major volatile components after irradiation at different doses were analyzed by using electronic nose combined with headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The results showed that 54, 64, 59, 53 and 58 compounds were identified in the samples irradiated at doses of 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 kGy, respectively. In addition, 17 compounds were detected in the untreated control group. The irradiation treatment increased the number of volatile components of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, and aldehydes and ester hydrocarbons were identified as the major flavor compounds. Besides, ketones were produced after irradiation. Using principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), cluster analysis and partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), all the samples were divided into two groups: 0–3 and 5–10 kGy, indicating that irradiation at a dose of no more than 3 kGy had no significant effect on the odor of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, and different doses of high-energy electron beam irradiation had different effects on the volatile components of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix.

Key words: high energy electron beam; Angelicae Dahuricae Radix; volatile constituents; electronic nose; headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry