Analysis of the Essential Oils of Leaves and Stems of Crassocephalum crepidioides Growing in South Western Nigeria

Abstract

The essential oils from fresh leaves and stems of Crassocephalum crepidioides (Asteraceae) growing wild in south western Nigeria and used as food supplement by the local population were extracted. The essential oils were extracted using Clevenger- type hydrodistiller and analysed by GC- MS. The percentage yields of oils were 0.12 %v/w and 0.09 %v/w, respectively. The essential oils of the leaves contained α-caryophyllene (10.29 %), β-cubebene (13.77 %) and α-farnesene (13.27 %) as major constituents while the dominant constituents of the stems oil were thymol (43.93 %), α-caryophyllene (15.16 %) and 4-cyclohexybutyramide (20.94 %).