Objective: To compare the yield and quality of volatile oil extracted from branches and leaves of Cinnamomum camphora during different harvest periods.Method: Firstly

collected branches and leaves of C. camphora with different growth years and months.And volatile oil from them was extracted by steam distillation and yield of volatile oil was calculated.Then the main components in volatile oil were analyzed by GC-MS

and the contents of isoborneol

borneol and camphor in volatile oil were separated and analyzed by GC.Result: The yield of volatile oil from branches and leaves of C. camphora with growth period of 2 years was slightly higher than 3 years

and had less component types.GC-MS peak area of borneol accounted for more than 80% of the total peak area of the main components.The yield of volatile oil from fresh leaves of C. camphora with growth period of 2 years was highest at the end of November

up to 1.37%

the content of borneol was higher than 70% in samples at every month

which reached 87% in May

while the content of camphor was lowest in November

only 0.32%.However

there was almost no isoborneol in all of the volatile oil samples.Conclusion: The best harvest time for C. camphora is 2 years

and the best harvest period was from the end of November to the beginning of December.In addition

a gas chromatography method

which is accurate

reliable and reproducible

can be used for the determination of three components at the same time

which can provide a basis for the quality evaluation of volatile oil in branches and leaves of C. camphora.