Analytical methods for quantitative analysis and chemical fingerprinting of volatile oils from Alpinia
oxyphylla were established. The volatile oils were prepared by hydrodistillation, and the yields were
between 0.82% and 1.33%. The developed gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID)
method showed good specificity, linearity, reproducibility, stability and recovery, and could be used satisfactorily
for quantitative analysis. The results showed that the volatile oils contained 2.31–77.30 L/mL
p-cymene and 12.38–99.34 mg/mL nootkatone. A GC-FID fingerprinting method was established, and the
profiles were analyzed using chemometrics. GC–MS was used to identify the principal compounds in the
GC-FID profiles. The profiles of almost all the samples were consistent and stable. The harvesting time
and source were major factors that affected the profile, while the volatile oil yield and the nootkatone
content had minor secondary effects.