~ 13 ~ American Journal of Essential Oils and Natural Products 2018; 6(4): 13-17 ISSN: 2321-9114 AJEONP 2018; 6(4): 13-17 © 2018 AkiNik Publications Received: 06-08-2018 Accepted: 10-09-2018 Opeyemi N Avoseh Department of Chemistry, Lagos State University Lagos, Nigeria Isiaka A Ogunwande University Drive, Nigeria Peter O Afolabi Department of Chemistry, Lagos State University Lagos, Nigeria Oladipupo A Lawal Department of Chemistry, Lagos State University Lagos, Nigeria Tran D Thang School of Chemistry, Biology and Environment Vinh University, Vietnam Roberta Ascrizzi Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 33, 56126 Pisa, Italy Flamini Guido Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 33, 56126 Pisa, Italy Correspondence: Opeyemi N Avoseh Department of Chemistry, Lagos State University Lagos, Nigeria Essential oil of Cordia millenii from Nigeria Opeyemi N Avoseh, Isiaka A Ogunwande, Peter O Afolabi, Oladipupo A Lawal, Tran D Thang, Roberta Ascrizzi and Flamini Guido Abstract Cordia millenii Bak. (Boraginaceae) is used in the south-western Nigeria to cure ache and pain disorders. Essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation of air dried leaves of C. millenii in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The yield of the essential oil was 0.026% (v/w), calculated on dry weight basis. The chemical constituents of the oil were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) on HP-5 column. The major constituents of the essential oil were limonene (19.9%), diallyl disulfide (18.4%), β-caryophyllene (16.6%), linalool (13.4%) and nonanal (10.6%). The anti-nociceptive property of the essential oil was statistically non-significant (p>0.05) when compared to the control for most concentrations except at 120 th mins (p<0.05) for 200 mg p.o. The 200-mg p.o. dose only displayed anti-inflammatory activity at the 1 st h (p<0.01) with others non-significant (p>0.05). This is the first report of the chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oils of C. millenii. Keywords: Cordia millenii, terpenes, anti-nociceptive activity anti-inflammatory activity 1. Introduction From time immemorial, smokes from the medicinal plants have been in use by humans for the treatment of different diseases. It was a common practice in many cultures and among famous ancient physicians. The records, written on clay tablets (from Mesopotamia dated about 2600 BC) are still in use as references for the treatment different ailments ranging from coughs and colds to parasitic infections and inflammations [1] . Plant derived smoke has multiple uses, including air purification, flavoring, medicinal, seed germination, pest control, preservation, religious and veterinary among other historical and modern applications [2] . 1.2 Cyperus esculentus (Tiger nut) Cordia millenii (Bak.) is a medicinal plant belonging to Boraginaceae family. It is widely distributed in tropical Africa. The plant can grows to a height of 60 to 100 ft, bole cylindrical, but rarely straight, 30 to 40 ft. in length; trunks about 3 ft in diameter above buttresses [1] . The plant has been used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of fever, cough, stomachache, mild tonic, astringent, toothache and inflammation related disorders. Extracts from C. millenii have shown the antifertility [1] , antimicrobial [2] and antioxidants [2] effects. In addition, the extracts have prevented lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation [3] . The phytochemical compounds previously isolated from the plant include cordiachromes A–F [4] . Until now, no information is available on essential oils of C. millenii. This paper describes for the first time, the chemical composition and observed anti-inflammatory actions of C. millenii essential oil. Recently, we have published data on the chemical constituents, anti-inflammatory and anti- nociceptivel activities of essential oils from Nigerian plants [5-7] . 2. Materials and methods 2.1 Drugs and chemicals Carrageenan drug of analytical grade was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co. (St Louis, MO, USA). Ibuprofen injection (May and Baker) and Diclofenac Injection (Dizpharm, Nigeria Ltd.) were purchased from Lagos State University Pharmacy. 2.2 Collection of plant The leaves of C. millenii were collected from Ayetoro, Ilesha (7°370N 4°430E), Osun State in June 2017. Botanical identification was achieved by Mr. Dotanus E. of Herbarium, Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. A voucher specimen (UIH-22607) was