The essential oil composition of Rhus cotinus L. (syn. Cotinus coggygria Scop.; Family: Anacardiaceae), was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed by b-carotene bleaching test, reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation methods. A total of 30 compounds were identified with the dominance of monoterpenes (65.9%) viz. b-Pinene, camphene, limonene, a-pinene and p-cymene followed by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (20.6%). The oil exhibited antioxidant activity by inhibiting b-carotene bleaching (56.4 ± 1.88%) and by scavenging DPPH free radical (IC50 = 720 ± 0.10 mg mL-1).
