Chemical composition of essential oils of <i>Hoslundia opposita</i> Vahl. from Ivory Coast.

Abstract

Abstract Hoslundia opposita Vahl. was collected in different locations on the Ivory Coast. Samples of essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation were analysed by GC and GC/MS. The results showed variability in the chemical composition of the oils. Four chemotypes of H. opposita were identified: the essential oil from Dabou (south) was rich in germacrene D (31.1%); the oil from Guiglo (west) contained a combination of β ‐caryophyllene (13.3%), germacrene D (24.1%) and benzyl benzoate (30.1%); in the essential oil from Agboville (southeast) the major constituents were menthol (10.9%), thymol (13.9%), β ‐caryopyllene (20.5%) and germacrene D (10.7%). The oil from Bouake (centre) was characterized by β ‐caryophyllene (24.8%) and germacrene D (24.1%). Copyright © 2006 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.