Microwave-assisted hydrodistillation was used to isolate an essential oil from the leaves of Cinnamomum iners Reinw. ex Bl., and the results compared with those obtained by conventional hydrodistillation. The composition of the oil from both methods was found to be similar, and (-)-linalool was found as the main component (30-50 %). The antioxidant activity of the essential oil obtained by both methods was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and lipid peroxidation methods, all of which indicated the same but insignificant activity.