Objective To compare the effects of three different softening methods（ soaking

sprinklemoistening and decompression-quenching methods） on cortex cinnamomi

contents of water extraction

volatile oil content and cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid were analyzed to determine the best softening method of cinnamon. Methods Water extraction and volatile oil contents of each sample were determined according to China Pharmacopoeia criteria. And the high performance liquid chromatography（ HPLC） method was used for determining the content of cinnamic acid and cinnamicaldehyde. Multi-index comprehensive evaluation method was used to analyze the results. Results The order of comprehensive evaluation scores was decompression-quenched > soaked > the original medicine > sprinkle-moinstening. Conclusion Cortex cinnamomi processed by the softening method of decompression-quenching seems to have the characteristic of the best luster and richest fragrance; furthermore

this method seems to take the least time and damage to the fewest effective components of the medicine

proving itself to be the best softening process.