Chemical composition of the essential oils from the aerial parts of two Malagasy endemic species (Apiaceae): <i>Billburttia capensoides</i> Sales & Hedge and <i>Billburttia vaginoides</i> Sales & Hedge

<p>The chemical composition of twenty-five essential oil samples from the aerial parts of two Malagasy endemic species <i>Billburttia capensoides</i> Sales & Hedge and <i>B. vaginoides</i> Sales & Hedge, were investigated for the first time. Based on chromatographic profiles, three selected samples were investigated using GC(RI), GC-MS and ¹³C NMR. The content of the main components varied drastically from sample to sample: <i>p</i>-mentha-1,3,8-triene (0.2–52.7%), terpinolene (2.8–40.7%) and dill apiole (0.0–22.2%). Statistical analysis of the 25 oil compositions allowed the distinction of two well-differentiated groups. Samples of group I contained mainly <i>p</i>-mentha-1,3,8-triene while the Group II was dominated by terpinolene and dill apiole.</p