Abstract A water-distilled oil produced from the aerial parts of Diplotaenia cachrydifolia of Iranian origin was analyzed by a combination of GC and GC/MS. Twenty-six components were identifed, which approximately constituted 99.5% of the oil. The major constituents were limonene (30.4%), (Z)-Î²-ocimene (11.6%), elemicin (15.0%), dill apiole (12.5%) and (E)-isoelemicin (15.2%).