Unusual composition of the essential oils from the leaves of <i>Piper aduncum</i>

Abstract The chemical compositions of the essential oils from the leaves of Piper aduncum from Panama and Bolivia were investigated by GC‐FID, GC‐MS and 13 C‐NMR. In total, 55 components were identiﬁed representing 99.3 and 80.3% of each sample, respectively. The oil from Panama was characterized by a high percentage of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (38.9%), the main ones being β ‐caryophyllene (17.4%) and aromadendrene (13.4%). In contrast, the oil from Bolivia showed a high content of monoterpenes (76%), the major constituent being 1,8‐cineole (40.5%). Phenylpropanoids, mainly sarisan (1‐allyl‐2‐methoxy‐4,5‐methylenedioxybenzene; 12.9%), were only detected in the latter. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.