Essential oil content and composition of six Iranian  Nepeta species ( N. prostrata, N. saturejoides, N. sessilifolia, N. fissa, N. betonicifolia and N. ucranica ).

The aerial parts essential oils of six Nepeta species (N. prostrata , N. saturejoides , N. sessilifolia , N. fissa, N. betonicifolia and N. ucranica ) were analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. In the oils of two populations of N. prostrata, 1,8-cineole (49.8%-51.1%) was main constituent. Epoxy -alloaromadendrene (42.5%) was major compound in the oil of one population of N. saturejoides and α-humulene (25.4%), and caryophyllene oxide (19.7) were major components of the second population. In the oils of two populations of N. sessilifolia, n -octadecanol (17%-19%) and caryophyllene oxide (5.8%-16%) were main constituents, while α-pinene (32.5%) and spathulenol were major components of the third population. In the essential oils of three populations of N. fissa, caryophyllene oxide (16.1%-33.5%) was major compound, but each population had particular compound such as carvacrol, ( E )-caryophyllene or spathulenol with remarkable amount. Tetradecanal (55.5%) and trans -muurola-4(14),5-diene (46.2%.) were main components in the oils of N. betonicifolia and N. ucranica, respectively.