Abstract: Study on fresh ginger and dry ginger essential oils extracted by steam distillation, and the compounds of essential oils were assayed with combined capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the extracted ratio of fresh ginger and dry ginger essential oil is 0.29% and 2.51% respectively, while the extracted ratio of dry substance was 7.7% and 2.8% respectively. 57 compounds are identified in the essential oils of fresh ginger and dry ginger by GC-MS. There are 2 compounds in fresh ginger and 12 compounds in dry ginger not found among them. The relative contents higher than 3% are found in 8 compounds. By sensory analysis, the color and aroma of essential oil in fresh ginger are better than those in the dry ginger.

Key words: fresh ginger essential oil, dry ginger essential oil, steam distillation, GC-MS