GC and GC–MS analysis of the essential oil of Nepeta cilicica Boiss. ex Benth. from Lebanon

Abstract

The hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Nepeta cilicica Boiss. ex Benth., collected in Lebanon in the Horsh Ehden reserve, yielded 0.13% (w/w) of essential oil. Gas chromatography (GC) and GC–mass spectroscopy analysis enabled the identification of 75 compounds representing 96.8% of the total oil. The most abundant compounds were spathulenol (15.1%), hexadecanoic acid (14%), δ-cadinene (5.5%) and α-copaene (4.5%). On the whole, the oil was constituted mainly by sesquiterpenes (45.9%), among which sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (27.6%) slightly prevailed over oxygenated sesquiterpenes (18.3%).

Keywords::

• Nepeta cilicica
• essential oil
• spathulenol
• hexadecanoic acid
• δ-cadinene
• α-copaene

Acknowledgements

The GC and GC–MS spectra were performed at the ‘C.S.I.A.S.’ of the University ‘Federico II’, Napoli. The assistance of the staff is greatly appreciated.