Essential oil content and composition of six Iranian Nepeta species (N. prostrata, N. saturejoides, N. sessilifolia, N. fissa, N. betonicifolia and N. ucranica)

Abstract

The aerial parts essential oils of six Nepeta species (N. prostrata, N. saturejoides, N. sessilifolia, N. fissa, N. betonicifolia and N. ucranica) were analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. In the oils of two populations of N. prostrata, 1,8-cineole (49.8%–51.1%) was main constituent. Epoxy-alloaromadendrene (42.5%) was major compound in the oil of one population of N. saturejoides and α-humulene (25.4%), and caryophyllene oxide (19.7) were major components of the second population. In the oils of two populations of N. sessilifolia, n-octadecanol (17%–19%) and caryophyllene oxide (5.8%–16%) were main constituents, while α-pinene (32.5%) and spathulenol were major components of the third population. In the essential oils of three populations of N. fissa, caryophyllene oxide (16.1%–33.5%) was major compound, but each population had particular compound such as carvacrol, (E)-caryophyllene or spathulenol with remarkable amount. Tetradecanal (55.5%) and trans-muurola-4(14),5-diene (46.2%.) were main components in the oils of N. betonicifolia and N. ucranica, respectively.