abstract the essential oils of three different parts (roots, leaves and fruits) of diplotaenia cachrydifolia were investigated by gc/ms. the oil yield of dried parts obtained by hydrodistillation were 0.33%, 1.67% and 2.9% (v/dw), respectively. thirty-five compounds representing 92.7%, 97.9% and 97.7% of the root, leaf and fruit oils were identified, respectively. major constituents of root oil were isomyristicin (21.4%), -phellandrene (18.8%), -phellandrene (9.8%), methyl oleate (9.6%), p-cymene (7.6%) and (e)-isodillapiole. however, the characteristic compounds of leaf and fruit oils were terpinolene (64.1%, 69.34%), (e)-dillapiole (17.59%, 7.7%), -phellandrene (4.5%, 67.0%) and (e) -ocimene (2.3%, 3.8%), respectively. the oil constituents of the leaves and fruits were found to be similar. however, the amounts of isomyristicin, -phellandrene and methyloleate in the roots were higher than those of leaves and fruits.