The essential oils of the leaves and twigs from Zanthoxylum syncarpum Tull. were examined by GC/MS and GC-FID. Variation in the oil composition relative to the harvesting time was also described. The major components in the leaves oils were limonene (23.1-47.3%) and myrcene (4.8-10.8%). In the oils of twigs, the main components were ar-curcumene (12.8-18.1%), E-β-farnesene (9.1-9.7%) and β-caryophyllene (9.2-9.3%). This paper describes for the first time the composition of the essential oil of the twigs from Z. syncarpum.