Asaricin, the main component of Ocotea opifera Mart. essential oil.

Investigation of the volatile fraction from the stem bark of Ocotea opifera Mart. led to the isolation and characterization of asaricin, a phenolic derivative with antifungal and insecticidal activity, as the main component, which is described for the first time for the genus Ocotea. The structure has been established by a study of its mono- and bidimensional NMR spectra and mass spectrometry.