Abstract: OBJECTIVE To compare the difference of volatile compounds in Platycladi Cacumen treated with different sample acquisition methods. METHODS Using steam distillation and head-space injection respectively, volatile components in Platycladi Cacumen were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) combined with the Kovats retention indices(KI). RESULTS By GC-MS, 29 volatile compounds in Platycladi Cacumen treated with head-space injection were identified, while 34 volatile compounds identified with steam distillation; among the detected compounds, there were 23 mutual compounds with different relative contents. CONCLUSION Volatile compounds can be deprived more by steam distillation, while it can be simple and high effectively with head-space injection.