Antioxidant activity of Nepeta nuda L. ssp. nuda essential oil rich in nepetalactones from Greece

J Med Food. 2010 Oct;13(5):1176-81. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2009.0218.

Abstract

Essential oils from air-dried leaves and verticillasters of Nepeta nuda ssp. nuda from Greece were analyzed by means of gas chromatography-flame ionization detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The dominant constituent in the verticillaster oils was 4aα,7α,7aß-nepetalactone (75.7%). The main metabolites of the leaf oil were 1,8-cineole (16.7%), 4aα,7α,7aß-nepetalactone (24.7%), and caryophyllene oxide (16.3%). The oils were examined for their antioxidant activity. Neutralization of stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical ranged from 10.83% (2.50 μg/mL) to 58.64% (50.00 μg/mL) for verticillaster oil and from 6.25% (2.50 μg/mL) to 57.79% (50.00 μg/mL) for leaf oil. The essential oil from verticillasters had significant effects on lipid peroxidation (in the range of 41.18-59.23%), compared to tert-butylated hydroxytoluene (37.04%). In contrast, the essential oil from leaves exhibited pro-oxidant activity at the highest concentration applied.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Biphenyl Compounds / chemistry
  • Butylated Hydroxytoluene / pharmacology
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Cyclopentane Monoterpenes
  • Cyclopentanes / analysis*
  • Flowers / chemistry
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Greece
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Nepeta / chemistry*
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry*
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology*
  • Picrates / chemistry
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Pyrones / analysis*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Cyclopentane Monoterpenes
  • Cyclopentanes
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Picrates
  • Pyrones
  • Butylated Hydroxytoluene
  • nepetalactone
  • 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl