Abstract: Aim: To find the optimum extraction conditions on volatile oil of Artemisia selengensis by supercritical fluid CO2 extraction (SFE-CO2), and the constituents analysis of essential oil. Methods: Using the orthogonal test to study the SFE-CO2 technology on essential oil from Artemisia selengensis, the effects of pressure, temperature, time, and volume of entrainer on the essential oil extracts were studied, and the constituents of essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The essential oils optimum extraction conditions by SFE-CO2 are as follows: pressure 40 MPa, temperature 45 ℃, time 3 h, and 95% ethanol entrainer 1.5 ml/mg. The yield of essential oil at the optium extraction conditions is 3.12%. 45 peaks are separated by GC-MS and 37 peaks identified. The compounds are quantitatively determined by normalization method, and the identified compounds represent the peak area 93.12 %. The main compound is chamazulene, which has many physiological activities. Conclusion: This study provides scientific proof for the further exploitation and utilization of Artemisia selengensis.

Key words: Artemisia selegensis, CO2 supercritical fluid extraction, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, essentialo il