α-Bulnesene, a PAF inhibitor isolated from the essential oil of Pogostemon cablin

Steam distilled essential oil from the aerial parts of Pogostemon cablin was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Forty one compounds were identified of which α-guaiene (20.62%) and α-bulnesene (16.18%) were major constituents. Furthermore, fractionation of the essential oil from P. cablin guided by inhibitory activity against PAF-induced platelet aggregation led to the isolation of the sesquiterpene, α-bulnesene.