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The essential oils from the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus L. collected from two different locations (Empangeni-A and KwaDlangezwa-B; both in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province of South Africa) were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. Forty-one and 43 components were identified, representing 89.9% and 92.0% of sample A and sample B, respectively. Alpha-cyperone (11.0%), myrtenol (7.9%), caryophyllene oxide (5.4%) and beta-pinene (5.3%) were major compounds in the oil of sample A. The main constituents of the oil of sample B were beta-pinene (11.3%), alpha-pinene (10.8%), alpha-cyperone (7.9%), myrtenol (7.1%) and alpha-selinene (6.6%).

The essential oils of the flowers, leaves and stems of Senecio polyanthemoides Sch. Bip. Samples collected from two different localities within the city of uMhlathuze, KwaZulu-Natal Province (South Africa) were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC and GC/MS. Twenty-six constituents were identified, representing an average of 86.0 - 99.6% of the total oil composition. The chemical profile reveals the dominance of monoterpenoid compounds, although some quantitative variance was noticed. The main constituents of the oils were limonene (3.1 - 43.0%), p-cymene (4.9-36.3%), beta-selinene (1.3-32.7%), alpha-pinene (1.8-21.4%), beta-pinene (7.6-16.5%) and 1,8-cineole (9.3-11.4%), caryophyllene oxide (4.1-13.4%) and humulene epoxide II (8.6-10.3%).