Abstract The essential oil, which was produced by hydrodistillation of Annona squamosa (Annonaceae) leaves was investigated by GC and GC/MS. Eighteen compounds have been identified accounting for 86% of the oil. The oil of A. squamosa was made up of monoterpene hydrocarbons (2.5%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (76.0%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (7.1%). Î²-Caryophyllene (23.0%), germacrene D (21.3%), bicyclogermacrene (8.5%) and Î²-elemene (7.8%) were the major constituents of the oil.