Abstract Essential oils from Mikania species (Asteraceae), collected in Southern Brazil were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The species analyzed were M. hurchellii Baker, M. glomerata Sprengel, M. micrantha Kunth and M. paranensis Dusén. Sixty-five compounds were identified, representing 90â98% of the oil contents. All species were rich in sesquiterpenes. M. hurchellii, M. micrantha and M. paranensis oils contained mainly of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (germacrene D and β-caryophyllene), while M. glomerata oil was rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenes (spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide). Monoterpene compounds were detected in large amounts only in M. micrantha (27.8%), as major components β-pinene (16.1%) and (E)-β-ocimene (7.0%).