Abstract The composition of the essential oil from leaves and fruits of Margyricarpus pinnatus (Lam.) O. Kuntze was analyzed by GC and combined GC/MS. One hundred-fifteen constituents were identified which constitute more than 95% and 99% of the leaf oil and fruit oil, respectively. The major compounds in the leaf oil were limonene (57.8%) and α-pinene (9.7%), whereas sabinene (24.2%), limonene (9.1%) and pinocarvone (9.7%) were higher in the fruit oil.