Identification of volatile constituents of Tambourissa leptophylla

The volatile fraction of Tambourissa leptophylla fruit skin was extracted b y petrol ether, purified by adsorption chromatography (LPC) and analysed by gas chromatographic-spectroscopic methods. 27 non-oxygenated terpene hydro carbons and 10 oxygenated derivatives were identified, The most abundant co mponents were: limonene (24.0 %), cis-alpha -bergamotene (23.2 %), Delta -3 -carene (8.2 %), alpha -curcumene (6.0 %), trans-alpha -bergamotene (5.1%), alpha -copaene (4,1%), alpha -pinene (4.0%), p-cymene (4.0%) and bicycloge rmacrene (3.3%). The crude volatile fraction was tested in vitro against Cl adosporium cucumerinum in direct bioautography on TLC plates on the basis o f the antifungal use of fruit skin. Activity of petrol ether extract agains t this micro-organism was demonstrated.