Essential oil of from the foliage leaves of Sabina virginiana L. Antoine (Cupressaceae) was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed for their constituents by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-one compounds were identified with monoterpenes accounting for 68.3% of the oil content. The major constituents were limonene (32.9%), safrole (23.0%), asarone (15.9%) and α-pinene (5.2%). The topical antiinflammatory assay of the whole essential oil was also investigated in mice ear edema induced by tetradecanoylphorobol-13-acetate. The anti-inflammatory activity of 66.7% at 5.0mg dose level may be an indication of the therapeutic application of the oil.
