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Main conclusion Using virus-induced gene silencing, we demonstrated that the enzymes GES, ISY, and MLPL are responsible for nepetalactone biosynthesis in Nepeta cataria. Abstract Nepetalactone is the main iridoid that is found in the Nepeta genus and is well-known for its psychoactive effect on house cats. Moreover, there is a burgeoning interest into the effect of nepetalactone on insects. Although the enzymes for nepetalactone biosynthesis have been biochemically assayed in vitro, validation of the role that these enzymes have in planta has not been demonstrated. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a silencing method that relies on transient transformation and is an approach that has been particularly successful when applied to a variety of non-model plants. Here, we use a recently designed visual-marker dependent VIGS system to demonstrate that the nepetalactone biosynthetic enzymes GES, ISY, and MLPL impact nepetalactone biosynthesis in Nepeta cataria.

The biosynthesis of nanoparticles stands as an uncomplicated, biocompatible, inexpensive, and secure approach for replacing the available chemical and physical methods. In this paper, Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) and silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were biosynthesized using Nepeta and Berberine plant extracts, respectively. UV–Vis, FT-IR, and FESEM/EDAX techniques were applied for confirming the synthesis of nanoparticles. In addition, the method of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was utilized to perform a sensitivity test on fungal species' leachates through the usage of Duplicate. The application biosynthesized Se-NPs and Ag-NPs at concentrations of 1 µg/mL and below caused no growth of fungal agents. However, antifungal drugs at concentrations higher than 1 µg/mL and even up to 64 µg/mL inhibited the growth of these drug-resistant fungi. A comparison of the results showed that even these nanoparticles in some cases have a better effect than the group of antifungal drugs. Therefore, the usage of biosynthesized nanoparticles is considered to be more convenient and economical due to the increasing drug resistance of opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms towards the exerted target drugs.

The new benzofuran lignans nepetamultin A (1) and B (2) were isolated from flowers of Nepeta multifida L. [Schizonepeta multifida (L.) Briq.; Lamiaceae]. UV and NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data indicated 1 was the 9′9′′′-di-O-methyl ester of schizotenuin A; 2, the 9′-O-methyl ester of schizotenuin C1. Biological studies revealed that 1 and 2 possessed antioxidant and antihyaluronidase activity.

In the present study, we utilized ISSR molecular markers to investigate infraspecific and infrageneric genetic variations in 34 populations from 25 Nepeta L. taxa. We used the CTAB protocol for DNA extraction. PCR was performed using 20 ISSR primers, and 12 of which produced scorable bands. The genetic diversity and polymorphism analyses showed high genetic variation among the taxa and their populations. The Analysis of Molecular Variance revealed significant genetic variation (P ≤ 0.001), which its great part belonged to among taxa variation. These findings were supported by the considerable amounts of genetic differentiation (GST) and total genetic variation in the pooled species (HT) that revealed the high genetic divergence of the studied taxa. Furthermore, the reticulation network of gene flow, a small number of gen flow index (Nm), and the mean difference within each species (HS) indicated a reduced level of gene flow among the taxa. We detected high genetic diversity among the populations of the same species, which revealed high infraspecific diversity. The haplotype network (TCS) demonstrated genetic difference at similar loci among each population’s individuals due to mutations on a scaffold of genetic relationships. According to STRUCTURE analysis and the neighbor-joining tree, 15 genotypes were detected among the studied taxa and their populations. The clustering pattern of these taxa and their populations did not agree with previous infrageneric classifications of Nepeta species in sections or groups. The occurrence of mutations and restricted gene flow create high infraspecific genetic divergence, which is reflected well in the infrageneric classification of Nepeta. Therefore, infraspecific variation should be considered in each taxonomic treatment of the genus.

This study aimed to investigate the encapsulation of the Nepeta binaludensis extract and its release kinetics under laboratory conditions. The Nepeta extract (extracted using a pulse electric field process, 6000 v and pulse number 60) was encapsulated with maltodextrin (with dextrose equivalent of 7 (MD7) and 20 (MD20)) and Arabic gum (AG) with a mass ratio of 1:5 (extract/wall material, w/w). Response Surface Methodology (RSM) has been used to optimize the microencapsulation efficiency and the physicochemical properties of encapsulated powders, considering the type of wall content. To investigate the release kinetics under laboratory conditions, the microcapsules stored for 35 days at a relative humidity of 55 and 75% at 4 and 25 °C and every 7 days were measured the amount of microencapsulated phenolic compounds. The results showed that the combination of MD7 (16.67), AG (16.67), and MD20 (66.67) had higher efficiency in the production of microcapsules, total phenolic compounds, antioxidant power and glass transition temperature compared to other cases. These microcapsules were thin, uniform, non-porous, and indented in shape. The monitoring of release kinetics during storage showed that the loss of phenolic compounds was significantly affected by the type of wall composition, such that the wall with formula MD7 (16.67), AG (16.67), and MD20 (66.67), had a higher inhibitory effect on reducing total phenolic compounds compared to other walls.

Background Conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, often affect the patients’ quality of life due to their serious side effects, indicating the urgent need to develop less toxic and more effective alternative treatments. Medicinal plants and their derivatives are invaluable sources for such remedies. The present study aimed to determine the chemical composition, anticancer and antibacterial activities of Nepeta mahanesis essential oil (EO). Methods The chemical composition of EO was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Cytotoxicity and apoptosis/necrosis induction of EO was analyzed by MTT assay and Flow cytometry. Real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the Bax/Bcl2 gene expression. Also, the effect of the EO on the cells’ mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ROS level was assessed. DPPH assay was done to assess the free radical scavenging activity of the EO. The Antimicrobial activity, MIC, and MBC of the oil were determined via well-diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Results Based on the GC-MS analysis, 24 compounds were identified in the EO, of which 1,8-cineole (28.5%), Nepetalactone (18.8%), germacrene D (8.1%), and β-pinene (7.2%), were the major compounds. Also, the EO showed considerable cytotoxicity against MCF-7, Caco-2, SH-SY5Y, and HepG2 after 24 and 48 h treatment with IC50 values between 0.0.47 to 0.81 mg/mL. It was revealed that this compound increased the Bax/Bcl2 ratio in the MCF-7 cells and induced apoptosis (27%) and necrosis (18%) in the cells. Moreover, the EO treatment led to a substantial decrease in MMP, which is indicative of apoptosis induction. A significant increase in ROS level was also detected in the cells following exposure to the EO. This compound showed strong DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50: 30). It was also effective against Gram-positive E. faecalis (ATCC 29,212) and Gram-negative E. coli (ATCC 11,333) bacteria. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrated that the EO of N. mahanesis could be considered a bioactive product with biomedical applications that can be used as an alternative cancer treatment and applied in the biomedical industries.

Nepeta tenuifolia (N. tenuifolia) is a common aromatic herb that is widespread in East Asia. The aerial parts and spikes can be used as the traditional phytomedicines for the treatment of cold, fever, respiratory diseases, and skin diseases in the clinic and as a vegetable in salads or cooked foods. These applications have lasted for thousands of years due to their outstanding performance. In this review, with the help of PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, and CNKI, we have summarized the research achievements made in recent years on the various aspects of N. tenuifolia, covering botany, traditional uses, processing, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and pharmaceutics. A total of 102 phytochemicals have been found and identified in N. tenuifolia, which were grouped into terpenoids, flavonoids, organic acids and other components, including many bioactive compounds such as pulegone, hesperidin, and rosmarinic acid. This plant has also exhibited antiviral, immunoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and miscellaneous bioactivities, including antitumour, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and antithrombus activities. The progress to date has provided basic and strong evidence to support the traditional uses of this herbal medicine. However, the present explanations seem insufficient and unsatisfactory, in term of the relationships between the traditional uses and the modern pharmacological actions, the action mechanisms and the material basis. Therefore, in the future, some comprehensive studies should be well designed for further understanding the development and utilization of N. tenuifolia.

Microbial biodeterioration is a growing problem in cultural heritage (CH). Many biocides used to control CH biodeterioration have toxic effects and risks of contamination for health and the environment. Essential oils (EOs) due to their antimicrobial potential and low toxicity represent a sustainable and safe alternative in the control of microbial growth in heritage assets. Nevertheless, EOs volatility is one of the main challenges for its use in bio-mitigation adapted to cultural heritage. The encapsulation of EOs may have an alternative strategy for the use of EOs as green biocides that promote a controlled release of EO. In this study, seven EOs of flavouring herbs were screened to evaluate their antimicrobial potential against filamentous fungi, yeast or bacteria strains, previously isolated from colonized artworks. Free EOs, namely L. luisieri and C. nepeta EOs, showed a large antimicrobial spectrum, with high activity for A. niger, Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp., Rhodotorula sp. and Arthrobacter sp. strains. EO of T. vulgaris shows similar antifungal activity when encapsulated by co-precipitation with β-cyclodextrin, for an encapsulation efficiency higher than 50%. The results suggest the potential use of EO in the safeguard of cultural assets, as eco-friendly, biodegradable and non-toxic biocides, as a green and useful approach when compared to traditional biocides.

Ultrasonication technology was utilized for extraction of effective components from Nepeta (Nepeta binaludensis Jamzad). Response surface methodology was employed in order for investigation the effects of independent process variables (ultrasonic extraction time (UET, min): 5, 10 and 15 min, ultrasound amplitude (UA, %): 20, 60 and 100%, ultrasonic extraction temperature (UEC, °C): 25, 35 and 45 °C and ultrasonic duty cycle (UDC, %): 20, 60 and 100%) on the yield (Y), total phenolic compounds (TPC), half maximal of radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activity (IC50) and ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP) of ethanolic Nepeta extract. According to Derringer’s desired function approach, the optimal conditions based on both individual and combinations of all process variables were UET 15 min, UA 60%, UEC 25 °C and UDC 60%. At this optimum condition, the Y, TPC, IC50 and FRAP of the ultrasound-assisted extract (USx) were found to 10.93%, 402.63 mg GA/kg, 0.33 mg/mL and 2838.34 µmol Fe2+/kg, respectively which were well matched with the predicted values. The evaluation of antioxidant activity (IC50 and FRAP) indicates that the phenolic compounds from Nepeta possess significant antioxidant activity. Also, HPLC analysis revealed that at optimal condition of UAE, the quantity of caffeic acid (85.71%), rutin (3550%) and rosemarinic acid (468.62%) in extract increased in comparison with conventional method (solvent extraction).

The oxidative stability and oxidation kinetics of pure soybean oil (PSO) supplemented with 0.5–6% of pulse electric field ethanolic extract (PEFx) of Nepeta (Nepata binaludensis Jamzad) or 100 ppm of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were evaluated at 100–120 °C. The oxidative stability of PSO decreased with increasing temperature and improved significantly (p

Wild medicinal and aromatic plants are in the market as herbal raw or processed and packaged materials, playing, even today, a strategic role in the production of plant-based products. Indeed, their content in active ingredients, mainly specialized secondary metabolites, is not constant; it undergoes significant seasonal variations, as abiotic stress heavily affects secondary metabolism network. The present review deals with the seasonality influence on the polyphenolic composition on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of medicinal and aromatic plants. To this aim, firstly the factors influencing the content of active ingredients in a plant drug will be discussed, and, in particular, the increased occurrence of phenols as a response to abiotic stress. In the last part of the review a brief reference will be made to four meaningful case studies, which involve wild medicinal aromatic herbs, native to the Mediterranean area: Calamintha nepeta L. Savi, Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Ruta graveolens L. and Thymus longicaulis C. Presl. These species, grown in the same geographical area and collected at the same harvesting time, showed a great variability in phenol constituents throughout the year. The comparison among data acquired clearly evidences that the seasonal variation in polyphenols’ occurrence and amount leads to a more/less pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of the hydroalcoholic extract therefrom. It is worth of note that the presence of the same metabolite, but in different phytochemical complexes, could result in different biological activities.

In the present study, triterpenoidal glycoside was isolated from ethanolic extract of aerial part of the plant Nepeta hindostana. The ethanolic extract was subjected to Si-gel CC and compound was isolated. The isolated compound Napedinolside has been characterized as 1β,11α,30-trihydroxy-lup-20(29)ene-(3 → 1′)-β-D-pyranoside on the basis of spectroscopic (UV, IR, 1 H, 13 C NMR and MS) methods. The ethanolic and aqueous extract at different concentrations were screened for antiplatelet activity using platelet rich plasma (PRP) prepared by centrifugation of rabbit whole blood (containing 0.9 % sodium citrate as anticoagulant) at 1500 rpm for 15 mins. The Np-01 was identified as triterpenoidal glycoside which was amorphous brownish white powder; yield 0.64 % (w/w); mp 125–127. N. hindostana showed very excellent antiplatelet activity in both aqueous and alcoholic extracts. The minimum concentration showed antiplatelet activity was 0.5 μg/ml. These findings demonstrate that ethanolic and aqueous extract of the selected plant material at different concentrations showed significant antiplatelet activity. The triterpenoidal glycoside from aerial parts of N. hindostana could hold promise for future application in the treatment of blood clot and pulmonary embolism related diseases.

Meiotic studies and chromosome data are imperative in order to have an overall germplasm evaluation of a taxon. In the present effort, the meiotic study is carried out in 48 populations belonging to 26 species of Lamiaceae collected from their natural habitats in Kashmir Himalaya, which forms an important part of Northwest Himalaya. Chromosome counts in the five species viz. Dracocephalum nutans (2n = 10), Lycopus europaeus (2n = 22), Marrubium vulgare (2n = 54), Nepeta nervosa (2n = 18) and Salvia sclarea (2n = 22) are first time reported from India. Besides, 17 species are cytologically evaluated for the first time from the study area-Kashmir Himalaya. In Marrubium vulgare, hexaploid cytotype (2n = 6 × =54) is reported for the first time. Also, diploid and tetraploid cytomorphovariants are observed in Calamintha vulgaris (2n = 20, 40), Elsholtzia ciliata (2n = 16, 32) and Mentha longifolia (2n = 20, 40). Various meiotic abnormalities like chromatin stickiness, cytomixis, nonsynchronous disjunction, laggards, chromatin bridges, etc. leading to pollen abnormalities have been documented for the first time in some species. The worldwide status of chromosome number data in each genus is presented.

Nepeta is a perennial herbal plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae mint family. Nepta has different species that are widely used in the agriculture, medicine, and pharmaceutical industries. A field experiment was conducted in 2015 and 2016 to determine the effects of potassium humate foliar application [0 (control) and 400 ppm] on growth, essential oil and constituents of three Nepta species [Nepeta cataria (catnip), Nepeta cataria var. citriodora (lemon catnip), and Nepeta grandiflora (giant catmint)] under Egyptian conditions. In all three species, the application of potassium humate increased growth indicators, essential oil content (%) and yield (mL/plant), and flavonoids in each of the two harvests. However, the height of giant catmint was significantly higher than that of lemon catnip, which was higher than that of catnip. Lemon catnip that received potassium humate and harvested second gave the highest essential oil content and yield. The major constituents were geraniol and nepetalactone in catnip; citronellol and geraniol in lemon catnip; and o-cymene, c-terpinene, p-cymene and carvacrol in giant catmint. The highest p-cymene in giant catmint, citronellol in lemon catnip, and geraniol in catnip were obtained from the application of potassium humate, while the highest o-cymene, c-terpinene and carvacrol in giant catmint, geraniol in lemon catnip, and nepetalactone in catnip were obtained from control plants. This study demonstrated the variations among species of nepeta, and how they respond to the application of potassium humate. The findings of this study can guide the customization of potassium humate applications to the three species for achieving desired growth and essential oil production outcomes.

Nepeta rtanjensis (Lamiaceae) is an endemic and critically endangered plant species that grows only on Rtanj Mountain in the southeastern Serbia. Due to its endemic character and distribution separated from the other Nepeta species in Mediterranean Basin, N. rtanjensis has been considered as a relict. It has been noticed that number of individual plants in natural habitat rapidly decreases. Hence, the project of reintroduction of this plant was successfully conducted. However, many aspects of its biology still remain unknown and necessary to investigate. In that sense, epiphytic and endophytic Nepeta rtanjensis phyllosphere fungi were studied at three sites in Serbia: Javor—Locus classicus, with autochthonous population and with reintroduced plants, and Belgrade with micropropagated specimens in experimental field. The sites in Javor are located in the area of the Mountain Rtanj. From both, the surface and the interior of leaves, a total of 49 taxa of microfungi were identified, belonging to 35 genera. Alternaria spp. was reported on all studied sites with the highest isolation frequency (>75 %). Similarity between epiphytic and endophytic fungal assemblage was moderate. The highest fungal diversity was detected on site with the autochthonous Nepeta rtanjensis population. Phyllosphere mycobiota show the presence of a large number of viable propagules, with a low frequency of occurrence of symptoms, due to the specific anatomy of the leaf and a well-developed indumentum.

The volatile constituents of Nepeta ciliaris Benth. roots were obtained by hydro-distillation and identified using Gas chromatography–Flame ionization detector (GC–FID) and Gas chromatography–Mass spectrometry (GC–MS) technique. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of crude oil has been carried out by using agar well diffusion method against five bacteria causing respiratory infections. Twenty compounds from essential oil of N. ciliaris were identified which represents 99.7 % of the total oil, consisting of oxygenated monoterpenoids (15.5 %), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (77.4 %), oxygenated sesquiterpenoids (3.5 %) and diterpene hydrocarbons (3.3 %). The major constituents are α-ylangene (32.1 %), β-caryophyllene (16.1 %), guaiacol (11.3 %), α-humulene (8.1 %), isolongifolene (8.0 %), trans-α-bergamotene (4.5 %), and β-cyclocitral (3.0 %) while others were present in relatively small amounts. The antibacterial assay showed significant results against test bacterial strains.

Calamintha nepeta L. (Savi), known as Lesser Catmint, is a Mediterranean species belonging to the Labiatae family, considered an important source of natural compounds. Since little is known about phytotoxic potential of Lesser Catmint, the bio-guided fractionation method was employed to isolate and identify some compounds, prerequisite for their possible future use in weed management. Leaves and stems of catmint were extracted with methanol and fractionated using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, solvents with different polarity. The potential phytotoxicity of the methanolic extract and its fractions, evaluated by ED50 values comparison, was assayed in vitro on seed germination and root growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Germination and root growth of lettuce were strongly inhibited by catmint methanolic extract and its fractions, showing the following hierarchy of phytotoxicity for both physiological processes: ethyl acetate ≥ n-hexane > chloroform ≥ n-butanol. In the most active fraction, analyzed by HPLC, 5 poliphenols, gallic, vanillic, syringic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids, were identified and quantified. Whereas, the n-hexane fraction was a mixture of 32 chemicals, mainly composed of terpenoids and fatty acids, as analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Further, GC analysis allowed to quantify 5 compounds: camphor, trans-caryophyllene, menthol, farnesene and pulegone. Furthermore, both fractions inhibited seed germination and root growth of two of the most common weeds, Amaranthus retroflexus and Echinochloa crus-galli. The results confirmed the phytotoxic activity of C. nepeta L. (Savi) due to the presence of different molecule classes with biological activity and their potential future application as bio-herbicides.

The antibacterial effects of Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae), Lavandula angustifolia (Lamiaceae), and Calamintha nepeta (Lamiaceae) Savi subsp. nepeta var. subisodonda (Borb.) Hayek essential oils on five different bacteria were estimated. Laboratory control strain and clinical isolates from different pathogenic media were researched by broth microdilution method, with an emphasis on a chemical composition-antibacterial activity relationship. The main constituents of thyme oil were thymol (59.95%) and p-cymene (18.34%). Linalool acetate (38.23%) and beta-linalool (35.01%) were main compounds in lavender oil. C. nepeta essential oil was characterized by a high percentage of piperitone oxide (59.07%) and limonene (9.05%). Essential oils have been found to have antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. Classification and comparison of essential oils on the basis of their chemical composition and antibacterial activity were made by utilization of appropriate chemometric methods. The chemical principal component analysis (PCA) and hierachical cluster analysis (HCA) separated essential oils into two groups and two sub-groups. Thyme essential oil forms separate chemical HCA group and exhibits highest antibacterial activity, similar to tetracycline. Essential oils of lavender and C. nepeta in the same chemical HCA group were classified in different groups, within antibacterial PCA and HCA analyses. Lavender oil exhibits higher antibacterial ability in comparison with C. nepeta essential oil, probably based on the concept of synergistic activity of essential oil components.

0009-3130/11/4705-0843 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 1) Medicinal & Natural Product Chemistry Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, P. O. Box: 71345-1149, fax: 98711 233 22 25, e-mail: javidniak@sums.ac.ir; 2) Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 3) Department of Chemistry, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran; 4) Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 736–739, September–October, 2011. Original article submitted May 20, 2010. Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Vol. 47, No. 5, November, 2011 [Russian original No. 5, September–October, 2011]

In order to evaluate the allelopathic potential of Nepeta meyeri Benth., the effects of aqueous extracts (0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5%) prepared from roots and leaves of N. meyeri were studied on the seed germination and seedling growth of several economically important crops (barley, wheat, canola, safflower, and sunflower). Both the root and leaf extracts of N. meyeri caused a general phytotoxic effect on the seed germination and seedling growth of barley and sunflower at all concentrations. However, both the root and leaf extracts significantly increased the seedling growth of wheat, especially at the lower concentrations 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5%, whereas the higher concentrations had a neutral effect. The seed germination and the seedling growth of canola and safflower were also generally improved by both extracts, especially at lower concentrations. However, these advantages were not observed at higher concentrations, at which the extracts mostly had a phytotoxic effect on canola and safflower. The Allelopathic activity of N. meyeri depended on whether the extract was derived from the leaf or root parts of the plant. The maximum allelopathic effect occurred with leaf extracts. The results demonstrate that the aqueous extracts from N. meyeri have allelopathic potential and should be evaluated as an allelopathic species, presenting a risk or advantage to seed germination and seedling growth of crop or weed plants.

Essential oils from 22Nepetaspecies growing in Turkey have been studied. Results of GC/MS analyses of the essential oils have shown that four Nepeta species contain 4aα-7α-7aα-nepetalactone as the major component. 4aα-7α-7aβ-Nepetalactone was the main constituent in N. racemosa. Seven Nepeta species contained caryophyllene oxide as the main constituent in their essential oils. 1,8-Cineole/linalool were the major components in the essential oils of six species. β-Pinene,α-terpineol,germacrene-D,and spathulenol were the main constituents in the essential oils fromN. phyllochlamys, N. viscida, N. sorgerae, andN. trachonitica, respectively.

The genus Nepeta (Lamiaceae) comprises 250 species of perennial herbs that are distributed in Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the mountains of tropical Africa. These plants are commonly known as catmint [1]. The common Persian name of this genus is pune-sa, and about 67 species are recorded in Iran [2]. Many Nepeta species have some biological activity and are used in folk medicine because of their antispasmodic, diuretic, antiseptic, antitussive, antiasthmatic, and febrifuge activities [3–8]. Nepeta cataria L. (Lamiaceae) is one of the endemic species of this genus in Iran. N. cataria, commonly known as catnip, is native to Asia Minor and Southeast Europe and grows to a height of 90 cm. It is used as a fortifier, a disinfectant, and a cure against cold [1, 9]. Literature surveys reveal that most oils of Nepeta species such as N. cataria contain nepetalactones as the main component. Antibacterial, fungicidal, and antiviral activities have been attributed to nepetalactones [3, 6, 10]. According to our finding, there is no report on the chemical composition of the essential oil of N. cataria growing in central Iran, so the aim of the present research was to determine the chemical composition of N. cataria essential oil. The constituents of the volatile oil were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS). The components of the oil of air-dried herbal parts of N. cataria are listed Table 1, including percentages and retention indices of the components. Constituents are listed in order of their elution from an HP-5MS column. As is shown, nine compounds were identified in the oil of N. cataria, making up 98.0% of the total oil. Among the constituents of the volatile oil, 4aα,7α,7aα-nepetalactone (87.1%), 4aα,7α,7aβ-nepetalactone (3.1%), β-caryophyllene (2.5%), and β-pinene (1.7%) were the major ones; the other constituents were present in relatively small amounts, representing only (3.6%) of the total oil. Nepetalactone isomers, which are the major constituens in our oil, were present in the essential oil of several Nepeta spp [11–20]. It was found that nepetalactones were responsible for the feline attractant properties of Nepeta species. 4aα,7α,7aα-Nepetalactone, which was the main component of our oil, has been detected as the major one in four Nepeta species growing in Turkey [21] and also in N. cataria growing in Germany [22], while caryophyllene oxide, which was abundant in N. cataria from Lebanon [23] and Lithuania [24] (6.4%, 7.3% respectively), was not found in our work. β-Caryophyllene, which was the third major component of our oil, has been reported in the oil of some Nepeta species such as N. cataria [23], N. daenensis [25], and N. fissa from Iran [26], and in N. curviflora growing in Lebanon [23]. On the other hand, 1,8-cineole, which was the most abundant component in many Nepeta species [4, 27–30], was not present in our work. Also, linalool and germacrene D have been identified in sizable amounts in other Nepeta species [4, 29, 31, 32], but traces of these compounds were found as oil constituents in this study. This is not unexpected since plants often manufacture different amounts of phytochemicals when grown in different geographical locations. The aerial parts (leaves and flowers/inflorescences) of Nepeta cataria L. growing wildly in the Kashan area (Isfahan Province, Central Iran) at an altitude of ca. 1550 m were collected in July 2007 and were dried in the shade (at room temperature). Voucher specimens of the plant were deposited in the Herbarium of Kashan Botanical Garden, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Kashan, Iran. The air-dried aerial parts of the plant (130 g) subjected to volatile fractionation were isolated by hydrodistillation using an all-glass Clevenger-type apparatus for 3.5 h according to the method recommended in the European Pharmacopoeia [33]. After decanting and drying of the pale yellow oil (0.89%) over anhydrous sodium sulfate, it was stored in vials at low temperature (4°C) before analysis.

The feline attractant properties of several Nepeta species have been known for a long time; in fact the activity of nepetalactone and also of its isomers on the olfactory sense of domestic cats (Felix domestica) was proven in 1969 [10]. The antioxidant activity was evaluated “in vitro” only in Nepeta flavida essential oil from Turkey [11] and Nepeta cataria from Lithuania [12] by DPPH and beta-carotene bleaching tests. In this study we characterized for the first time the chemical constituents of the essential oil of Nepeta foliosa, an endemic species of Sardinia Island (Italy), and investigated its antioxidant activity by two “in vitro” systems. In Table 1 are summarized 16 compounds representing 96.4% of the essential oil (yield 0.1% v/w). GC and GC/MS analyses revealed nepetalactone (31.17%) and linalool (15.24%) as the main components, amounting to 46.41% of the total oil. 1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol) (12.54%), β-pinene (8.93%), and geranyl acetate (5.52%) were the other constituents of the essential oil studied.

The essential oil of Nepeta satureioides Boiss. from Iran was isolated by hydrodistillation in yield of 0.06% (w/w). The chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Forty-five compounds accounting for 97.4% of the total oil were identified. The major components were linalool (23.8%), (Z,E)-farnesol (14.7%), linalyl acetate (11.1%), β-caryophyllene (6.6%), lavandulol acetate (6.6%), caryophyllene oxide (6.4%), and (Z)-β-farnesene (3.4%). Oxygenated terpenoids were the main group of compounds.

The essential oil of Nepeta involucrata (Bunge) Bornm. (Lamiaceae) obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts during the flowering stage was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Forty-eight compounds representing 97.2% of total oil were identified. The main compounds of the oil were 1,8-cineol (23.1%), germacrene-D (15.1%), and β-pinene (12.2%). No traces of nepetalactone isomers were found as oil constituents.

The structure of the new iridoid glycoside velpetin isolated from the herbNepeta velutina has been established on the basis of spectral characteristics and chemical transformations as 1,5,8,9-tetraepiixoroside.

The pectin substances (PSs) of members of the familyLamiaceae (Labiatae) Nepeta transcaucasica (I),Ziziphora capitata (II),Rosmarinus officinalis (III), andSalvia officinalis (IV) have been isolated, purified, and characterized. It has been shown that the PSs mainly contain residues of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, glucose, and, in small amounts, those of fucose, mannose, and ribose, and differ in their quantitative ratios. The polymer chains are constructed D-galacturonic acid residues with a predominance of 1 → 4-α-glycosidic bonds.

No one can enter our English woods just now without being struck with the lovely way in which they are starred with the yellow of the primrose, the white of the anemone and strawberry, and the light blue of the dog violet. It will be noticed that the tints of these flowers seem positively to shine in the low herbage and among the semi-shade of the trees and bushes. After twice going through the descriptions of flowers growing in similar situations, given in Hooker's “Student's Flora of the British Islands,” I find that nearly all our dwarf wood flowers are white, light yellow, and light blue. None appear to be red. Three are purple—one form of the Sweet Violet and the Ground Ivy (Nepeta Glechoma), both of which are scented; and the Bugle (Ajuga reptans).