The Composition of Essential Oil from Nepeta cataria and Its Effect on Microorganism

We analyzed the total yields and composition of essential oils in leaf extracts of Nepeta cataria by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-six compounds representing 97.0% of total oil were detected. The major constituents of essential oils in Nepeta cataria were nepetalactone (90.9%), unidentified compound (Retention time 17.35; 1.82%), 1,8-cineol (1.49%), ${\beta}-caryophyllene$ (1.12%), and ${\beta}-pinene$ (1.078%). The volatile compounds in leaf extracts of N. cataria concentrated to nepetalactone ($88.83{\sim}93.33%$) remarkably. In the essential oil of N. cataria cis,trans-nepetalactone ($30.2{\sim}37.8%$) and cis,cis-nepetalactone ($31.5{\sim}37.0%$) were found as the main constituents. The effects of essential oil of N. cataria on the growth of six microorganisms (Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were investigated. The essential oil of N. cataria had strong inhibitory effect on the growth of three fungal species (Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, and B. amyloliquefaciens). The essential oil from N. cataria was found to have a low antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, while no activity were found against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results indicate the significant antimicrobial effect, which may be depended on the yield of nepetalactone.