Abstract: To develop a derivatized GC-MS method for the simultaneous determination of fourteen fatty acids in Xanthii Fructus from different areas and commercial herbs. The analysis was carried on an HP-5MS capillary column (30.0 m×250 μm×0.25 μm). The GC oven temperature was programmed with an initial temperature of 80 ℃,then increased to 195 ℃ by 10 ℃/min,holding it for 2 min,and increased to 230 ℃ by 3 ℃/min,holding it for 2 min. The temperature of the injection port and interface was set at 250 ℃. Split injection was conducted with split radio of 10:1. Nitrogen was used as the carrier gas,and flow rate was 10 mL/min. Selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode was used for the sample analysis. Good linearity of the investigated 14 fatty acids was achieved over the tested ranges (r>0.9948),with average recoveries ranged from 97.02% to 100.75%. The developed GC-MS was found to be selective,accurate. It was suitable for the determination of fatty acids in Xanthii Fructus,which provided the evidence for quality assessment of Xanthii Fructus.

Key words: Xanthii Fructus, fatty acids, GC-MS, determination