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Essential oils from the aerial parts of three populations of Nepeta crassifolia (Lamiaceae), which are Iranian endemic species and four populations of N. nuda grown in northwestern Iran were obtain...

The genus Nepeta L., with approximately 300 species, is one of the largest genera in the tribe Mentheae, subtribe Nepetinae of the Lamiaceae family. In the present work, pollen morphology of eight ...

Interspecific variability of three species of the genus Nepeta L. (N. pamirica, N. pannonica and N. subsessilis) was studied with their introduction in the mountainous conditions of Dagestan on the basis of a complex of morphological features of generative shoot. The evaluation of the examined features revealed that along the length and mass of the shoot these species superior are widespread and most productive species N. grandiflora. Weight features of all three species are at a high level of variability. Most of the traits studied are in a positive correlation with each other. Reproductive effort positively correlates with the mass of shoot, but the foliage not always. The results of the studies make it possible to evaluate the studied species as being resistant to the conditions of introduction, and recommend for cultivation in the mountainous zone of Dagestan.

The chemical characterization and the nematicidal activity of the essential oils from Nepeta nuda L. ssp. pubescens and Nepeta curviflora Boiss. growing wild in Lebanon are reported. A comparative ...

Medicinal plants have always had great value for the human population due to their valuable constituents and potential bioactivities. The objective of this review is to present an updated overview of an important medicinal plant genus Nepeta L., from the family Lamiaceae, revealing its traditional utilization, biological activity, phytoconstituents, and mechanisms of action. For this purpose, a literature survey was carried out by using SciFinder, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science followed by a revision of the bibliographies of the related articles. We have described and analyzed the role of plants in drug discovery and the importance of Nepeta species. Information on the utilization purposes of Nepeta species in folk medicine has been emphasized, and scientific studies on the biological effects and secondary metabolites are addressed. Nepeta species are characterized by terpenoid-type compounds and phenolic constituents, which exert several activities such as an antimicrobial, repellent against major pathogen vector mosquitoes, insecticide, larvicide against Anopheles stephensi, cytotoxic anticarcinogen, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory agent, and antidepressant, revealing its importance in medicinal and agricultural fields. On the basis of numerous studies, the Nepeta genus demonstrates remarkable therapeutic effects against various diseases. However, clinical studies are warranted to confirm preclinical findings.

The essential oil of Nepeta menthoides Boiss. & Bohse., from Iran, was analysed by GC/MS. Two types of multivariate analyses were done based on the chemical composition of the investigated sample in this study and 12 other samples reported in the literature to show the chemodiversity in essential oil composition. Antimicrobial, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities of the essential oil and its major component were assessed. Twenty-one compounds were identified, representing 96.81% of the total oil and the major constituent was 1,8-cineole (70.06%). Multivariate analyses revealed two chemotypes, i.e. nepetalactone and 1,8-cineole. The essential oil of the sample investigated in this study which was a 1,8-cineole chemotype and 1,8-cineole showed moderate antimicrobial activity and significantly inhibited the activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Cytotoxicity evaluation against three breast cancer cell lines showed a potent inhibitory activity. Further investigations are necessary to confirm the variety in several populations of N. menthoides.

Nepeta L. is one of the most important genera of the Lamiaceae family, which widely distributed all over the word. The members of this genus are use of traditional and modern medicine. Nepeta species growth naturally in various parts of Iran and recent years the number of its species is increasing. In the study, morphological characteristics of twenty four populations of seventeen Nepeta taxa were used for infra-generic classifications, because there were many discussions about infra-generic classification of this genus. For this, forty qualitative as well as quantitative morphological features of both vegetative and reproductive organs were examined. Data were analyses with MVSP and SPSS softwares. ANOVA test showed significant variations for all the studied quantitative traits, with the exception of flower number per cycle. Furthermore, most of qualitative characters such as basal and floral leaf shape and petal color differed between taxa. PCA-biplot and CA joint plot showed that some morphological characters had taxonomic value and were useful in identifications of species. In many cases, clustering of species in the UPGMA tree, PCA and PCO plots did not confirm species placements in groups/ sections according to modern classifications. Furthermore, populations of same species did not cluster closely. It seems that ecological conditions had strong effect on different features of this study and high infra-specific variations were found among the studied species.

Phylogenetic relationships among the species of Lallemantia and its close allies (Lamiaceae, Mentheae) were investigated using nuclear (ITS) and plastid (trnL, trnL/F, trnS/G, rpl32, and rpl32-trnL) DNA sequences. Phylogenetic results from Bayesian and parsimony analyses show that (1) Lallemantia is monophyletic, (2) Hymenocrater is nested within Nepeta, and (3) Lallemantia is more closely related to Dracocephalum than other genera in Nepetinae. Based on the molecular results, the genus Lallemantia comprises two disparate lineages, with each lineage supported by distinct morphological characters (e.g. floral structures and pollen grains).

The study of technological parameters of Midas wheat flour and possibility to use little-spread plants at wheat bread manufacturing was realized. Parameters and regimes for keeping and baking bread of new recipes were elaborated and selected. The elaborated method of bread manufacturing by new recipes relates to the field of agriculture and food industry and may be used at a laboratory baking of bread. There was experimentally grounded and introduced the change of a part of recipe quantity of wheat flour for dried and comminuted plants of Népeta mussinii L., Polymnia osotolysta L., Amaranthus tricolor L., Cosmos sulphureus L., Tanacetum parthenium L., Cyperus esculentus L., Physalis tomentous L. at baking bread. According to determined physical-chemical, organoleptic parameters of bread, a possibility of baking bread using plants was proved. The expedience of introducing vegetable additives of Népeta mussinii L., Polymnia osotolysta L., Amaranthus tricolor L., Tanacetum parthenium into wheat dough in the dose no more than 5 % to the flour mass; up to 10 % – Cosmos sulphureus L and up to 15 % – Cyperus esculentus L., Physalis tomentous L was proved. At these very dosages bread had an evenly colored crust, without breaks and cracks, elastic crumb, thin-walled porosity, expressed bread taste and pleasant smell of additives as opposite to other experimental samples.

This paper presents the results of a study of the ontogenesis and structural and morphological features of various life forms of Nepeta pulchella Pojark. (Lamiaceae). The environmental and coenotic features of the species habitats within the Aksu-Zhabagly State Nature Reserve have been described. It is found that N. pulchella inhabits areas from the middle part of the mountains to the subalpine belt. The status of coenopopulations in two types of plant communities has been examined. Depending on various ecological and coenotic conditions, N. pulchella individuals develop two life forms: taprooted caudex and short-rhizomatous–taprooted ones. Individuals belonging to these biomorphs go through complete sophisticated ontogenesis. The following morphogenetic phases have been described for the first biomorph: primary shoot → main axis → primary bush → clone; for the second one: primary shoot → main axis → primary bush → tillering particle → nontillering particle. The studied coenopopulations were normal, transitional to mature, resistant, and incomplete. The ecocoenotic and structural–morphological analyses made it possible to identify in the N. pulchella morphogenesis a number of features determined by phylogenetic ties with closely related taxa.

Nepeta rtanjensis Diklic & Milojevic (fam. Lamiaceae) is an endemic, critically endangered plant, protected by the law in Serbia. Various biological activities have been ascribed to its major constituents, nepetalactones. In this study we describe for the first time cytotoxic activity of N. rtanjensis essential oil (EO), obtained from field cultivated plants, which was found to be especially rich in trans,cis-nepetalactone. MTT assays indicated that after 72 h of treatment the EO exhibited cytotoxic activity on investigated cancer cell lines: HeLa, K562, A549, LS-174 and MDA-MB-231. Normal cell line (MRC-5) was the least sensitive to the treatment and IC50 value for this cell line was not reached within the tested range of EO concentrations (up to 0.1 μL/mL). Analysis of morphological changes of treated cells confirmed the higher sensitivity of tumor cells than normal cells to the tested EO. Application of N. rtanjensis EO resulted in the appearance of morphological changes in tested cancer cell lines characteristic for apoptotic cell death, and induced perturbations of the cell cycle of HeLa cells. In addition, upregulation of Bax and p53, and downregulation of Bcl-2, and Skp2 genes, involved in apoptotic signalling cascades, confirmed an apoptosis-inducing effect of N. rtanjensis EO on HeLa cells. Presented results highlighted the potential of N. rtanjensis EO in anticancer therapy.

Phelipanche hajastanica Piwow., O. Sanchez & Moreno Mor., sp. nova (Orobanchaceae) is described from the Lesser Caucasus in the southeastern part of Armenia. The species grows in two small gorges in the Vayk mountain range, and parasitises Nepeta trautvetteri, a Transcaucasian endemic. A detailed description and illustrations are provided. We compare P. hajastanica with the morphologically most similar species P. pulchella, P. bungeana, and P. caesia, of which the first two are lectotypified here.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Repeated administration of morphine for chronic pain leads to dependence and tolerance that limits clinical usage. Nepeta menthoides is commonly known as Iranian Ustukhuddoos and are administered in traditional medicine for gastrodynia, bone pain, blood depurative and restlessness. Aims of study To investigate the effects of Nepeta menthoides on expression and acquisition of morphine dependence and tolerance in mice with regard to oxidative stress. Materials and methods Morphine dependence in mice was developed by administration of gradually increasing doses of morphine twice daily for 7 consecutive days. In experimental groups, administration of Nepeta menthoides (200 and 400 mg/kg), methadone and their combination were performed 60 min prior to each morphine injection (for acquisition) or the last injection of morphine on test day (for expression). Morphine tolerance was measured by the tail-immersion test before and after the administration of a single dose of morphine (100 mg/kg; i.p.) on the test day (8th day). Morphine dependence was also evaluated by counting the number of jumps after the injection of naloxone (5 mg/kg; i.p.). Results Nepeta menthoides, similar to methadone, significantly prevented the development (but not the expression) of morphine dependence, tolerance, and potentiated morphine antinociception and also reduced (23.23±1.15) Nitric oxide (NO) overproduction (35.23±3.36) (in compared with naloxone group (6.3±0.52)). However, single and repeated application of the extract could not change high single-dose morphine analgesia. Conclusion It appears that Nepeta menthoides and methadone prevented morphine dependence and tolerance, partly through inhibition of the NO overproduction.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is regarded as one of the major intractable diseases, which was cured mainly by chemotherapeutics in the clinical treatment at present. But it is still a vital mission for the current medical and researchers that hunting a natural medicine which have little side effects and high-efficiency against the NSCLC on account of the shortcomings on current drugs. Nepeta cataria L. plays an important role in anti-cancer treatment according to the reports which was recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia of version 2015 and belongs to one of the Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Microfluidic chip technology is widely used in scientific research field due to its high-throughput, high sensitivity and low cost with the continuous progress of science and technology. In this study, we investigate the effect of total flavonoid extracted from Nepeta cataria L. (TFS) through human lung cancer cell line A549 based on the microfluidic device and Flow Cytometry. So we detected the mRNA expression of MicroRNA-126 (miR-126), VEGF, PI3K, PTEN and proteins expression respectively to explore the partial PI3K-AKT pathway molecular mechanisms through Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western Blot. The results showed that TFS can disturb the expression of miR-126 and regulate the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway to meet the effect of anti-cancer. Taking all these results into consideration we can draw a conclusion that TFS may be used as a novel therapeutic agent for NSCLC in the near future.

Nepeta nuda subsp. nuda is a medicinal plant growing wild in Bulgaria. Different species of Nepeta genus have been reported to possess allelopathic potential. The present study was conducted to observe its phytotoxic effects on T. aestivum and C. sativus L. seeds in laboratory conditions. Nepeta water extracts (NWE) prepared from aerial parts of plants at concentrations 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 g/l were tested. The rate of seed germination, the root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight of seedlings were observed after treatment with NWE. As a control served seeds treated with distilled water. Germination was not affected, but NWE showed deterioration in seedling growth. Roots were more affected than shoots. The fresh and dry weights were reduced upon treatment with the extracts tested. These negative effects were dose-dependent. The overall results indicate presence of water soluble allelochemicals in Nepeta nuda subsp. nuda.

The secondary metabolites and their biobenefits of many species of the genus Nepeta have been assayed for determination of the chemical constituents. In this study, Nepeta nuda subsp. albiflora’ess...

Nepeta satureioides Boiss. has been used in traditional medicine of eastern countries and is famous for its medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methanol (MeOH), n -hexane and dichloromethane (CH 2 Cl 2 ) fractions of the extract on melanin synthesis and oxidative stress in B16F10 melanoma cell line. The B16F10 cell line viability after treatment with increasing concentrations of different fractions of the plant (5-60 µg/mL) was measured using MTT assay. The inhibitory effect on synthesis of melanin, mushroom tyrosinase activity, cellular tyrosinase and oxidative stress were determined by the colorimetric and fluorometric methods. The data showed that at concentrations below 60 µg/mL, fractions did not show significant toxicity on melanoma cells. The amount of melanin synthesis by MeOH and CH 2 Cl 2 fractions and mushroom tyrosinase activity by the MeOH fraction declined in B16F10 cells. In addition to the capacity of MeOH, n- hexane and CH 2 Cl 2 fractions in decreasing the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in melanoma cells, all fractions revealed remarkable antioxidant activity. The melanogenesis inhibitory and antioxidant effects of N. satureioides on B16F10 cells may suggest this plant as a new pharmaceutical agent in reducing skin pigment and skin aging in cosmetic industry.

A phytochemical study of an extract from transformed root cultures of Nepeta teydea, induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes, led to the isolation of the following new compounds: the sesquiterpene (-)-cinalbicol, the diterpene teydeadione (6,11,14-trihydroxy-12-methoxy-abieta-5,8,11,13,15-penten-7-one), a degraded C23-triterpene (teydealdehyde) and three fatty acid esters of lanosta-7,24-dien-3β-ol. The propyl ester of rosmarinic acid was also isolated for the first time from a natural source. In addition, two dehydroabietane diterpenes, eight triterpenes and eighteen known phenolic compounds were obtained. The antifeedant, cytotoxic and phytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds have also been investigated., This work has been supported by grant CTQ2015-64049-C3-1-R MINECO, Spain. L.J.A. thanks the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) and the European Social Foundation for an I3P fellowship.

Context: Nepeta ruderalis Buch.-Ham. (Lamiaceae), locally known as Badranj Boya, is an aromatic herb used traditionally as an antispasmodic, antidiarrhoeal, and anti-asthamatic remedy. Objective: Aqueous methanolic extract of N. ruderalis was studied to investigate its traditional uses. Materials and methods: Study was conducted from September 2015 to February 2016. In vitro spasmolytic and broncho-relaxant activity of crude extract of N. ruderalis (whole plant) was evaluated at 0.01–10 mg/mL final bath concentration in isolated rabbit jejunum and tracheal tissues, using PowerLab data acquisition system (Transonic Systems Inc., Ithaca, NY). In vivo antidiarrhoeal activity was evaluated in castor oil-induced diarrhoeal mice at the dose of 300 and 500 mg of crude extract orally. Results: Crude extract of N. ruderalis completely relaxed spontaneously contracting, high K+ (80 mM) and carbachol (1 μM) induced contracted jejunum with an EC50 value of 5.85 (5.45–6.27), 4.0 (3.80–4.23) and 2.86 (2.48–3.29), similar to verapamil. Nr.Cr relaxed high K+ and carbachol induced contractions, at 5 and 10 mg/mL with an EC50 value of 2.37 (2.11–2.67) and 3.26 (2.9–3.67), respectively, and also displaced calcium concentration–response curves toward right at 0.1 and 0.3 mg/mL. Nr.Cr exhibited antidiarrhoeal protection at a dose of 300 and 500 mg/kg, similar to verapamil, whereas no acute toxicity signs were seen up to 5 g/kg in healthy mice. Discussion and conclusion: Results suggest the presence of spasmolytic and broncho-relaxant effects in the crude extract of N. ruderalis, possibly mediated through calcium channel-blocking activity, providing the pharmacological basis for its traditional uses in gastrointestinal and airway disorders.