Abstract

The chemical composition of essential oils of five aromatic Asteraceae native of Chile was examined using GC and GC/MS. In the oil of Gnaphalium philippi Cabrera, 25 compounds were identified, with (E)-nerolidol (44.3%) and dodecanoic acid (8.7%) predominating. Seventeen compounds were identified in the oil of Leptocarpha rivularis DC, with caryophyllene oxide (25.2%), ß-caryophyllene (21.1%), and a-thujone (11.9%) being the major ones. In the oil of Ophryosporus pinifolius (Phil.) King et H. Robinson, 23 compounds were identified, with limonene (35.9%) and ß-caryophyllene (9.4%) being the major constituents. Eleven compounds were identified in the oil of Senecio adenotrichius DC, dehydrofukinone (70.9%) being the major one. In the oil of Senecio zoellneri Martie. et Quez., 21 compounds were identified, the predominant ones being d-3-carene (19.5%), ß-phellandrene (18.0%), ß-pinene (16.4%), and a-pinene (10.8%). Monoterpenes predominated in O. pinifolius and S. zoellneri, and sesquiterpenes predominated in G. philippi, L. rivularis, and S. adenotrichius.