Essential Oil of Xylopia aethiopica Fruit

The essential oil of fruits of Xylopia aethiopica A. Rich was analysed by GLC and GLC coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Non polar and polar liquid phases were used. Many constituents were tentatively identified on retention data basis and confirmed by their mass spectra. The hydrocarbons α– and β–pinenes, γ–3–carene, p.–cymene, traces of α–phellanderene, α – and γ–terpinene, myrcene, camphene, limo–nene, and terpinolene were identified; β–pinene was the most prominent. Three sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were located of which bisabolene was identified. Of the oxygenated constituents, 1,8–cineole, linalool, terpinen–4–ol, a–terpineol, cuminyl alcohol and cuminic aldehyde could be identified. Terpinen–4–ol was the major constituent in the oil. Key Word Index Xylopia aethiopica - Anonaceae - Terpenes - Sesquiterpenes - Aldehydes - Alcohols - Oxides