The essential oils from the leaves of Annona pickelii and Annona salzmannii (Annonaceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus, and analysed by GC-MS and GC-FID. A total of 21 compounds were identified in the essential oil of A. pickelii and 23 in that of A. salzmannii; sesquiterpenes predominated in both essential oils. Bicyclogermacrene (38.0%), (E)-caryophyllene (27.8%), α-copaene (6.9%) and α-humulene (4.0%) were the main components of A. pickelii, while δ-cadinene (22.6%), (E)-caryophyllene (21.4%), α-copaene (13.3%), bicyclogermacrene (11.3%) and germacrene D (6.9%) were the main components of A. salzmannii. The biological activities of the essential oils against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote forms and cytotoxicity against tumour cell lines (antitumour) were investigated. The essential oils showed potent trypanocidal and antitumour activities with values of IC(50) lower than 100 µg mL(-1).