Chemical composition and biological activity of Nepeta parnassica oils and isolated nepetalactones.
Essential oils of Nepeta parnassica, collected at different developmental stages, were analyzed by means of GC/MS. From the fifty-five identified constituents in samples A and B, representing 94.8% and 98.7% of the oils respectively, 4a(alpha),7alpha,7alpha(beta)-nepetalactone (22.0%), 1,8-cineole (21.1%), alpha-pinene (9.5%) and 4a(alpha),7,beta,7alpha(beta)-nepetalactone (7.9%) were the major components of sample A (vegetative stage), whereas in sample B (flowering stage) the main contributors were 1,8-cineole (34.6%), 4a(alpha),7alpha,7a(alpha)-nepetalactone (17.3%), alpha-pinene (11.4%) and 4a(alpha),7alpha,7alpha(beta)-nepetalactone (8.9%). The oils were tested on human health important insects such as the Pogonomyrmex sp. ants and the Culex pipiens molestus mosquitoes with promising results on insect repellency/toxicity.
Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece.
Giorgos
G
Gkinis
Olga
O
Tzakou
Dimitra
D
Iliopoulou
Vassilios
V
Roussis
D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants; D003465:Culex; D000081004:Cyclopentane Monoterpenes; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D027521:Nepeta / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D009904:Optical Rotation; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D011753:Pyrones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
D000081004:Cyclopentane Monoterpenes; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D007306:Insecticides; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D011753:Pyrones; C115644:nepetalactone