Identification of characteristic volatile compounds in Artemisiae argyi Levl. et Vant. from diverse origins using...

Artemisia argyi Levl. et Vant., a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is highly regarded for its therapeutic properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anticancer effects. However, the quality of A. argyi varies considerably due to factors such as climate, cultivation practices, and harvest timing. This study investigated the volatile compound profiles of A. argyi from six different regions using an electronic nose (E-nose) and headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS). A total of 106 volatile compounds were identified by HS-GC-IMS, and terpenoids accounted for 39.62 % of the total, underscoring their importance in the chemical composition of A. argyi. E-nose sensor responses indicated that W1W and W2W exhibited the highest sensitivity, with the strongest signals observed in samples from Qichun (QC). By integrating variable importance in projection (VIP ≥ 1) and OPLS-DA results (P < 0.05), 28 key volatile compounds and 2 E-nose sensors (W1W and W2W) were identified as significant contributors to regional variations. Correlation analysis between HS-GC-IMS and E-nose data revealed 15 significantly differentiated compounds, six of which were common to both datasets, indicating their potential as reliable markers for geographic origin identification. These findings provide a methodological reference for the differentiation and quality control of A. argyi from diverse geographical regions.