Chemical Composition and Larvicidal Activity of the Essential Oil of Laurus nobilis L. from Iran

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of Laurus nobilis L. has been examined by gas chromatography (GC) and GC- mass spectrometery (MS). The main components of the oil were identified. 1,8-Cineole was the major component in the oil together with -terpinyl acetate, terpinene-4- ol, -pinene, -pinene, p-cymene, linalool and terpinene-4-ylacetate. The essential oil was tested against Anopheles stephensi and Culex pipiens larvae. The results obtained show that the essential oil could be considered as natural larvicidal agents.