The water-distilled oil obtained from resin of Dacryodes buettneri H.J.Lam, Burseraceae from Gabon was examined by GC and GC/MS. The analysis led to the identification of 28 components. The essential oil is characterized by a high proportion of terpinen-4-ol (27.33%) along with p-cymene (19%),
-pinene (13.23%), sabinene (4.40%) and isoascaridol (4%). The in vitro antioxidant activity was investigated with two methods: 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrasyl radical (DPPH) scavenging assay and
-carotene bleaching test. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was employed as positive control. The essential oil showed antioxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activities, and it displayed the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The essential oil was tested against twelve strains of bacteria using a broth microdilution method. D. buettneri essential oil exhibited antibacterial activity against almost microorganisms tested; however it was unable to inhibit growth of Streptococcus pyogenes.

Dacryodes buettneri, Burseraceae, essential oil, antioxidant