Cosme Kossouoh and Mansour Moudachirou, Victor Adjakidje, Jean-Claude Chalchat* and Gilles Figuérédo

Abstract: Essential oils from leaves of Annona muricata L. were obtained by steam distillation with a very low percentage. Analysis made by GC and GC/MS showed the presence of 80 compounds. The most abundant constituents were β-caryophyllene (13.6%), δ-cadinene (9.1%), epi-α-cadinol (8.4%), α-cadinol (8.3%).

<i>Annona muricata</i> L. (Annonaceae) is a small tropical fruit tree named “guanabana” or “soursop” (1). Originating in Central America, it is grown in many tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of South America, Africa, Asia and Australia (2). In Benin, it is also cultivated in Fon and Goun, where it is called chap-chap (3). Its leaves are thick, shiny on the upper side, obovate, oblate and acuminate to varying degrees. They are used in infusions in popular medicines for their sleepinducing, cough-relieving and fever-attenuating properties. (4). They contain a pleasant-smelling oil (5). The extract of leaves and stems prepared by Durand et al. (6), administered by injection, was found to have a transient depressor effect on blood pressure. From the leaves of the Dominican species, Callan and Tutin (7) extracted an alkaloid, a small quantity of volatile oil, a greenish-black resin, a new diol anonol, tannins, and amorphous substances. In hydrolysates of the leaf extracts, Bate-Smith (8) found leucocyanidine, and cafeic and coumaric acids. Power and Solway (9) also isolated compounds from the leaves in the phytosterol-glucoside group such as anonol and ipuranol. According to Merck (10), ipuranol is a sistosterol- D-glucoside. Two works were carried out on <i>A. muricata</i>. The first was reported by Pélissier et al. (11) on leaves, parings and fruit pulp. From the leaf oil, 59 compounds were identified, principally b-caryophyllene (31.4%), d-cadinene (6.7%), a-muurolene (5.5%) T- and α-cadinols (4.3%). The second work was reported by Boyom et al. (12) on the leaves and seeds; in leaves: β-caryophyllene (40%) and in seeds: α-phellandrene (25%), were preponderant. For comparison we set out to study the chemical composition of the leaf oil of <i>A. muricata</i> growing in Benin.