Chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oils from Bursera hollickii (Britton) found in Jamaica

The essential oils from the leaves and bark of Bursera hollickii (Britton) collected from Long Mountain, St. Andrew, Jamaica were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Sixty-two (62) components were identified from the leaf oils which constituted ca. 99% of the oils, while sixty-three (63) components were identified from the bark oils which constituted ca. 97% of the oils. Monoterpenes represented the major components of the oils with α-pinene (49.8% and 34.8%), β-pinene (11.0% and 10.6%), terpinolene (0.7% and 13.4%) and α-terpineol (5.7% and 8.9%) being the major component. Of the sesquiterpenes, the predominant components were β-caryophyllene (4.8% and trace) and α-humulene (3.4% and 0.7%). The oil exhibited toxic action against adult sweet potato weevils, Cylasformicarius elegantulus (Summer), the most destructive pest of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). No antioxidant activity was observed for the oils when subjected to the DPPH assay. © 2008 Allured Business Media.