Essential Oil Analysis of <i>Nepeta cilicia</i> Boiss.

Abstract

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the leaves and flowers of Nepeta cilicia Boiss. was examined by using capillary GC and GC–MS. Twenty-three constituents were identified, accounting for 96.6% of the oil. The essential oil of N. cilicia was characterized by a high percentage of sesquiterpenes, mainly β-caryophyllene oxide (40.7%), β-caryophyllene (15.7%), αcopaene (7.3%) and βcubebene (6.6%). No nepetalactones were found in the oil. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.