abstract the hydrodistilled essential oil from xylopia brasiliensis spreng. (annonaceae) leaves was analyzed by capillary gc and gc/ms. thirteen compounds were identified, representing 100% of the volatiles, among which 55% were monoterpenes and 45% sesquiterpenes. the major components were found to be spathulenol (40.8%), verbenone (11.1%) and 1,8-cineole (11.1%).