Essential oils from four Mikania species (Asteraceae)

Essential oils from Mikania species (Asteraceae), collected in Southern Bra zil were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The species analyzed were Al. burchellii Baker, M. glomerata Sprengel, Ill. micrantha Kunth and Al. paranensis Duse n. Sixty-five compounds were identified, representing 90-98% of the oil con tents. All species were rich in sesquiterpenes. Al. burchellii, Ill. micran tha and Al. paranensis oils contained mainly of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (germacrene D and beta -caryophyllene), while M. glomerata oil was rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenes (spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide). Monoterpen e compounds were detected in large amounts only in M. micrantha (27.8%), as major components beta -pinene (16.1%) and (E)-beta -ocimene (7.0%).