abstract aerial parts of physocaulis nodosus (l.) w.d.j.koch. (apiaceae) collected on hajla mountain possessed an essential oil in 0.62% yield (expressed in g per 100 g of dried plant material). the oil was analyzed by gc and gc/ms. among 21 compounds 16 were identified, representing 93.0% of total oil composition. dominant compounds were sabinene (36.4%), limonene (27.7%) and -pinene (9.8%). the oil possessed a limited antibacterial activity against micrococcus luteus, staphylococcus aureus and bacillus subtilis.