Many indigenous plants of the Philippines, including essential oil-bearing species, remain phytochemically and pharmacologically unexplored. In this study, the chemical composition of leaf essential oils (EOs) hydrodistilled from Litsea leytensis (Lauraceae) and Piper philippinum (Piperaceae) was determined using dual-column (HP-5MS/DB-WAX)/dual-detector gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Caryophyllene oxide (15.751/16.018%) was identified as the main compound in L. leytensis EO, followed by β-caryophyllene (11.130/11.430%) and α-copaene (9.039/9.221%). Ishwarane (25.937/25.280%), nerolidol (9.372/10.519%) and 3-ishwarone (6.916/2.588%) were the most abundant constituents of P. philippinum EO. Additionally, the in vitro growth-inhibitory activity of the EOs in the liquid and vapour phases against Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated using the broth microdilution volatilisation assay. Although the results showed no anti-staphylococcal effect, the presence of various bioactive compounds in both EOs suggests their potential future use in industrial applications.

Department of Animal Science and Food Processing Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamycka 129 165 00 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Crop Science and Agroforestry Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamycka 129 165 00 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry Visayas State University Visca Baybay City 6521 A Leyte Philippines

Department of Sustainable Technologies Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamycka 129 165 00 Prague Czech Republic

Institute of Tropical Ecology Visayas State University Visca Baybay City 6521 A Leyte Philippines

Philrootcrops Visayas State University Baybay City 6521 A Leyte Philippines

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