CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF SOME AROMATIC SPECIES OF THE GENUS NEPETA L.

The paper presents a study on four species of aromatic plants: a native species from the spontaneous flora of the Republic of Moldova (Nepeta cataria L.), a species to be introduced (Nepeta racemosa Lam.) and two non-native species (Nepeta melissifolia Lam., Nepeta grandiflora M. Bieb.); little research has been conducted on these species, but they are therapeutically valuable. The genus Nepeta L. is one of the largest and most important genera in the family Lamiaceae, subfamily Nepetoideae. The studies aimed at their evaluation and characterization from a bio-ecological and phytochemical aspect, in order to highlight the biomorphological peculiarities, the essential oil content and the possibility of using them in aromatherapy, perfumery, phytotherapy and gastronomy. The research highlighted the high adaptive potential and the prospects of cultivation of these species under the pedoclimatic conditions of the Republic of Moldova.