CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF
ESSENTIAL OILS FROM NEPETA SCHIRAZIANA BOISS.
JAVAD SHARIFI-RAD1, SEYED ABDULMAJID AYATOLLAHI1,2, ELENA M. VARONI3, BAHARE SALEHI4, FARZAD KOBARFARD1,5, MEHDI SHARIFI-RAD6, MARCELLO IRITI7*, MARZIEH SHARIFI-RAD1
1Phytochemistry Research Centre, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran
3Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Milan State University, Italy
4Young Researchers and Elites Club, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
5Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran
6Department of Medical Parasitology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol 61663-335, Iran
7Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Milan State University, via G. Celoria 2, Milan 20133, Italy
*corresponding author: marcello.iriti@unimi.it
Download Full Article

Abstract:
Nepeta schiraziana Boiss. (Lamiaceae) is a species endemic of Iran used in traditional medicine to treat a number of
ailments. This study investigates the chemical composition as well as the cytotoxic, antimicrobial, acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitory and antioxidant activities of N. schiraziana essential oil (EO). EO chemical composition was analysed by
GC-MS. Cytotoxicity was evaluated against MCF-7 and Hep-G2 cancer cells, while antimicrobial activity was assessed
against fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger), Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gramnegative
(Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. Forty-four compounds were identified; the main
constituents were 1,8-cineole (33.67%), germacrene D (11.45%), β-caryophyllene (9.88%), caryophyllene oxide (7.34%). N.
schiraziana EO showed a concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against both cancer cell lines. It also significantly inhibited
the growth of A. niger (MIC 1.85 ± 1.12) and C. albicans (MIC 4.94 ± 3.07 μg/mL). MIC for S. aureus, B. subtilis, K.
pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa were 16.37 ± 1.23, 168.22 ± 2.14, 180.99 ± 4.67 and 248.74 ± 5.12 μg/mL, respectively.
Slight antiradical and AChE inhibitory activities were measured. This is the first report on the chemical composition and
bioactivities of N. schiraziana EO. The antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer properties were confirmed in vitro.

Top