Chemical composition and cholinesterase inhibition of essential oils of three chemotypes from Croton zehntneri

croton zehntneri pax. & k. hoffm. (euphorbiaceae) is an aromatic plant native of the northeaster region of brazil; and is popularly known as "canela de cunh？". the chemical composition of the essential oils from leaves, stalks and roots from three chemotypes of c. zehntneri obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzes by gc-ms. e-anethole, was the main component in the essential oils of all plants parts of che-motype 1. while the phenylpropanoids stragole, eugenol, z-methyl isoeugenol and e-methyl isoeugenol were the major component in the essential oils of chemotypes 2 and 3, respectively. on tlc the essential oils and the major compounds showed an acetylcholine esterase inhibitory effect.