Abstract Piper mikanianum (Kunth) Steudel collected from the Atlantic Rainforest at Atalanta in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, afforded by hydrodistillation of the fresh leaf oil in 0.65% yield. The oil, which was analyzed by GC and GC/MS, was found to contain a high content of safrole (82%). The identified compounds accounted for 99% of the oil composition. This species can be regarded as a new source of safrole.