The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the fresh fruits of Xylopia laevigata was analyzed by gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector (GC–FID) coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC–MS). Monoterpenes predominated, forming 95.0% of the total essential oil. The major constituents identified were limonene (56.2%), α-pinene (28.0%), and β-pinene (5.5%). Cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines and non-tumor cells was also investigated; however, neither the essential oil nor its major constituents evaluated presented any cytotoxic activity (IC₅₀ > 25.0 μg mL⁻¹).