Volatile compounds from the leaves of Callitris columellaris F. Muell. collected from lbadan (southwest) and Kaduna (north central), Nigeria, were analyzed by GC and GUMS. The predominant compounds were limonene (37.2%) and bornyl acetate (27.1%), respectively, for samples from lbadan and Kaduna. The observed compositional pattern in the two samples may suggest the existence of chemical race within the Nigerian-grown C. columellaris considering the different ecological and climatic conditions between the two cities.

The essential oils from the leaves and fruits of Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack. grown in Nigeria were analysed by means of gas chromatograph and gas chromatograph interfaced with mass spectrometry. Both oils were rich in sesquiterpenoids. The principal constituents of the leaf oil were β-cyclocitral (22.9%), methyl salicylate (22.4%), trans-nerolidol (11.7%), α-cubebene (7.9%), (−)-cubenol (6.8%), β-cubebene (5.8%) and isogermacrene (5.7%). The most abundant constituent of the fruit essential oil was β-caryophyllene (43.4%). Other major components were (−)-zingiberene (18.9%), germacrene D (8.3%), α-copaene (5.5%) and α-humulene (5.1%). The compositions of both oils varied qualitatively and quantitatively. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The pulverized samples of the leaves and stem bark of Cedrela mexicana L. were subjected to hydrodistillation and the essential oils obtained were characterized by GC and GC/MS. Sesquiterpenes were the predominant components in both oils. The major constituents found in the leaf oil were alpha-terpinyl acetate (30.0%) and beta-caryophyllene (19.0%), while the stem bark oil was dominated by spathulenol (14.1%), elemol (13.2%) and alismol (10.2%).

The volatile oil of Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf. grown in Nigeria was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC, GC–MS, 1H- and 13C-NMR. The main components found were τ-cadinol (17.43%) and β-selinene (11.64%). The most interesting characteristic of the oil was the presence of four unusual and rarely occurring terpenoid esters: (E,E)-methyl farnesoate (1.01%), (E,E)-methyl-10,11-epoxyfarnesoate (12.17%), methyl (2E,6E)-10-hydroxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,6,11-trienoate (4.3%) and methyl (2E,6E)-3,7,11-trimethyl-10-oxododecadienoate (2.25%). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The composition of the volatile oil obtained from the hydrodistillation of the leaves of Psidium guajava L., growing in Nigeria, was studied by GC–MS. Forty-two compounds, representing more than 90% of the volatile mixture, were identified. The significant compounds were limonene (42.1%) and β-caryophyllene (21.3%). Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The leaf oils of Eucalyptus microtheca F. Muell., Eucalyptus tereticornis Smith and Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden were analyzed by means of GC and GC/MS. The dominant compounds were 1,8-cineole (53.8%) in E. microtheca, alpha-pinene (21.4% and 30.4%) in E. tereticornis and E. grandis, respectively, and beta-pinene (39.4%) in E. tereticornis. The absence of 1,8-cineole in the oils of E. tereticornis and E. grandis is peculiar.