British Journal of Research www.britishjr.org British Journal of Research www.britishjr.org Original Article Essential Oil Composition (Terpenes) of Salacia senegalensis Lam (DC) Leaf Adumanya OCU* 1 , Uwakwe AA 2 and Essien EB 2 1 Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria 2 Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria *Corresponding author e-mail: adumso2@yahoo.com A B S T R A C T Salacia senegalensis is an acclaimed medicinal plant use locally by the people of the South-East zone Nigeria in the treatment of malaria, skin problem like eczema and lotion for sick children. However, no scientific data on essential oil (terpenes) composition of its leaves have been reported. Hence, the essential oil compositions of its leaves were analyzed using Gas Chromatography (GC). A total of 38 compounds (essential oil) was identified and the most abundant as shown in the results are Alpha Terpinene (13.8 %), Germacrene D (12.4 %), Alpha phenandrene (11.6 %), Alpha Pinene (11.5 %), Alpha Caryophyllene (11.2 %), Linalool (9.2 %), Caryophyllene Oxide (9.1 %), Cymene (8.3 %), Carvacrol (5.6 %), 1, 8-Cineole (4.9 %) and Beta Pinene (1.8 %). Keywords: Essential oil, Medicinal, Salacia senegalensis, GC. INTRODUCTION Salacia senegalensis Lam (DC) is a shrub erect or climbing with white or pale greenish cream petals and orange or yellow flowers. It belongs to the family Celestraceae 1 . Traditionally, the leaf extracts are used as antimalarials, lotion for sick children and in the treatment of skin problem like eczema by the people of the South-East zone of Nigeria 1 . Since ancient times, essential oils have been recognized for their medicinal value and they are very interesting and powerful natural plant products. They continue to be of paramount importance until the present day. Essential oils have been used as perfumes, flavors for foods and beverages, or to heal both body and mind for thousands of years 2-5 . In the era of the Renaissance, Europeans have taken over the task and with the development of science the composition and the nature of essential oils have been well established and studied 6-9 .