Chemical composition of the essential oil of Kaliphora madagascariensis Hook. f.

Kaliphora madagascariensis is an evergreen shrub or small tree endemic to Madagascar where is traditionally used for the treatment of persistent cephalalgia by a strong inhalation of its odour. In this work we analysed for the first time the essential oil obtained from leaves by GC-MS. The chemical composition was dominated by oxygenated sesquiterpenes (68.1%), with caryophyllene oxide (14.7%) and β-eudesmol (10.7%) as the most abundant constituents. These compounds are endowed with documented healthy effects such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, neuritogenic, antiepileptic and hypotensive, and its abundance might explain the traditional use of the plant in Madagascar.