Essential Oils of Nepeta kurdica and Nepeta Chionophila from Iran as two Sources of Nepetalactone Isomers

This research aimed to identify the volatile compounds of essential oils found in the aerial parts of two Nepeta species (N. kurdica Hausskn. & Bornm., and N. chionophila Boiss. & Hausskn.). This is the first phytochemical investigation of these two Nepeta species. The essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by a combination of capillary gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Nineteen compounds accounting for ۹۰.۸% of N. kurdica oil were identified, while there were fifteen volatile components corresponding to ۹۵.۱% in N. chionophila oil. Nepetalactone isomers make up ۶۴.۲% of N. kurdica and ۹۰.۵% of N. chionophila oils. The main component of N. kurdica oil was ۴aa-۷a-۷aa-nepeta lactone (۵۷.۷%), while ۴aα-۷a-۷ab-nepeta lactone (۷۱.۸%) and ۴aa-۷a-۷aa-nepeta lactone (۱۵.۹%) were the major constituents of N. chionophila oil. So, the essential oils of N. chionophila (endemic) and N. kurdica (native) can be used the same as catnip (N. cataria) oil that is used for antimicrobial, repellent and insecticide effect, as a fortifier, a disinfectant and a cure against cold.

کلیدواژه ها:

Nepeta kurdica ، Nepeta chionophila ، essential oil ، nepetalactone