The essential oil from the leaves of Artemisia argyi was obtained by subcritical extraction combined with molecular distillation(subcritical extraction-molecular distillation)at low temperature.As a contrast,the same batch of artemisia argyi leaves was extracted by steam distillation.The composition of the essential oils obtained by the two methods and Artemisia argyi were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.The results show that the yield of essential oil by subcritical extraction combined with molecular distillation(0.25%)is much higher than that by steam distillation(0.13%).A total of 45 components were identified from Artemisia argyi leaves,42 components identified from essential oils obtained by subcritical extraction-molecular distillation,whereas 37 components were identified from essential oils obtained by steam distillation.The components of the essential oil obtained by subcritical extraction-molecular distillation were close to that of Artemisia argyi leaves,and both of them have high content of Sabinene hydrate,while high boiling component of the essential oil obtained by steam distillation are significantly less than that of Artemisia argyi leaves and the oil obtained by subcritical extraction-molecular distillation.This method provides a scientific and reliable industrial production condition for the extraction of essential oils from Artemisia argyi and other plants rich in volatile oil components.