Nepeta

ANALYSIS OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF NEPETA SINTENISII BORNM. FROM IRAN... 

Nepeta (Lamiaceae) is a genus of perennial or annual herbs found in Asia, Europe and North Africa. About 250 species of Nepeta are reported of which, 67 species are present in Iran. Some species of this genus are important medicinal plants and their extracts have been used for medicinal purposes. Aerial parts of Nepeta sintenisii Bornm. was subjected to hydrodistillation and the chemical composition of isolated essential oil has been analyzed by GC/MS method for first time. Identification of components of the volatile oil was based on retention indices relative to n-alkanes and computer matching with the Wiley275.L library, as well as by comparison of the fragmentation patterns of the mass spectra with those reported in the literature. 

Aerial parts of N. sintenisii yielded 0.3% of a clear yellowish oil. Forty constituents (96.5% of the total oil) were identified. The main components were 4aP,7a,7aP-nepetalactone (23.4%), elemol (16.1%), E- -farnesene (9.5%), 1,8-cineole (8.2%), cw-sabinene hydrate (6.5%), P-bisabolene (4.2%), germacrene-D (3.5%), P-sesquiphellandrene (2.8%), P-bourbonene (1.5%) and a-epi-cadinol (1.3%). According to available data, Nepeta species can be divided into two groups of nepetalactone-containing and nepetalactone-free species. The results of this study indicate that the compositions of volatile oil of N. sintenisii are similar to the other Nepeta genus and this plant could be classified in the group which 4aP,7a,7aP-nepetalactone is the major component of their oils. 

Content and composition of essential oils from Nepeta L. species, most of them containing diastereomeric nepetalactones, unsaturated 8-lactones with annelated cyclopentane ring 98KPS84. 

Combine elder with catnip Nepeta cataria) leaves to quiet a colicky baby. 

Smoking the leaves of catnip (Nepeta cataria) produces only mild effects in man. However, the pure active agent, cis, trans-nepetalactone, seems not to have been tested on man. Seeds are available from several companies and the freshly picked leaves are probably more potent. Catnip is not orally active in cats, For synthesis see Corsi Semin, chim. 11,93(1968) et seq. BCSJ 22,1737(1960) Proc. Chem. Soc. 166(1963). JOC 37,3376 (1972) gives a synthesis of dihydronepetalactone (more attractive to cats than nepetalactone). 

Most of the plants, collected from Lamiaceae family, are aromatic and grown in Aegean-Mediterranean regions (West-South Anatolia). These are Salvia, Sideritis, Thymus, Origanum, Satureja, Stachys, Micromeria, Nepeta etc. 

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a coarse green-grey leaved perennial plant with spotted white tubular flowers (Kowalchick and Hylton 1987). It has a long recorded history of use, extending back to... 

Harney JW, Barofsky IM, Leary JD. (1978). Behavioral and toxicological studies of cyclopentanoid monoterpenes from Nepeta cataria. Lloydia. 41(4) 367-74. 

Massoco CO, Silva MR, Gorniak SL, Spinosa MS, Bernard MM. (1995). Behavioral effects of acute and long-term administration of catnip (Nepeta cataria) in mice. Vet Hum Toxicol. 37(6) 530-33. 

Sherry CJ, Hunter PS. (1979). The effect of an ethanol extract of catnip (Nepeta cataria) on the behavior of the young chick. Experientia. 35(2) 237-38. 

Easy to root Among the most successful plants for beginners to try are fuohslas, pelargoniums (below), and nepeta (catmint). 

Evening primrose Oenothera biennis), catnip Nepeta), hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum), valerian, lavender, coltsfoot Tussiiago farfara)... 

Nepetalactone (Fig. 11.5c), a monoterpene lactone (or iridoid) from the volatile oil of catmint, Nepeta cataria, excites domestic cats and other felids (Todd, 1962 Palen and Goddard, 1966 Hill etal, 1976). 

Baldovini N, Ristorcelli D, Tomi F, Casanova J, Infraspecific variabifity of the essential oil of Calamintha nepeta from Corsica (France), Flavour Fragr J, 15 50-54, 2000. 

Evidence of repellent properties in camip, Nepeta cataria, to flies and cockroaches was observed in preliminary studies.This study compared catnip essential oil obtained by steam distillation and elemol (Fig. 8), a major constituent of osage orange essential oil, to current commercial repellents. These comparative studies found both the camip steam distillate and elemol to be as good, and in some cases better, at repelling house... 

Schultz G, Simbro E, Belden J, ZhuJ, Coats J, Catmp, Nepeta catariaiharoiaAes Lamiaceae) — a closer look Seasonal occurrence of nepetalactone isomers and comparative repellency of three terpenoids to insects. Environ Entomol AA 5(>2— 1569,2004. 

Nepeta pungens, N. saturejoides Lamiac. Leaf surface 189 ... 

Calamintha nepeta, C. sylvatica Lamiac. Aerial parts 252... 

Jamzad, Z. et al., Leaf surface flavonoids in Iranian species of Nepeta (Lamiaceae) and some related genera, Biochem. Syst. Ecol, 31, 587, 2003. 

Tomas-Barberan, F.A. et al.. External and vacuolar flavonoids from Nepeta transcaucasica, Biochem. Syst. EcoL, 20, 589, 1992. 

Coumarin 162 (Structure 4.49) is a naturally occurring lactone in crystal form found in hay and tonka beans. It is one of the most used fragrance materials and is responsible for spicy green notes. Dihydrocoumarine 163 is also present in various essential oils with a characteristic sweet herbal odour. Umbellif-erone 164, scopoletin 165, bergaptene 166 and coumarin are found in Rutaceae, Apiaceae, Lamiaceae and Asteraceae oils. Nepetalactones 167 are confined to the oils of Nepeta species [1,3, 21-23, 63]. 

CATNIP -- Nepeta catoria. Family Labiatae (Mint family). 

---