Phytochemical profiling of antimicrobial and potential antioxidant plant: Nepeta cataria

Abstract

Traditional and phytochemical studies have confirmed the richness and diversity of medicinal plants such as Nepeta cataria (N. cataria), but more studies are needed to complete its metabolite profiling. The objective of this research was to enhance the metabolomic picture and bioactivity of N. cataria for better evaluation. Phytochemical analysis was performed by bio-guided protocols and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). For this, solvents such as methanol, ethanol, water, acetone, and hexane were used to extract a wide number of chemicals. Antibacterial analysis was performed using the 96-well plate test, Kirby Bauer's disk diffusion method, and the resazurin microdilution test. Antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH assay and radical scavenging capacity was evaluated by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. GC/MS analysis revealed a total of 247 identified and 127 novel metabolites from all extracts of N. cataria. Water and acetone extracts had the highest identified metabolites (n = 79), whereas methanol extract was the highest in unidentified metabolites (n = 48). The most abundant phytochemicals in methanol extract were 1-isopropylcyclohex-1-ene (concentration = 27.376) and bicyclo [2.2.1] heptan-2-one (concentration = 20.437), whereas in ethanol extract, it was 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (concentration = 27.308) and 1-isopropylcyclohex-1-ene (concentration = 25.854). An abundance of 2 methyl indoles, conhydrin, and coumarin was found in water extracts; a good concentration of eucalyptol was found in acetone extract; and 7,9-di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro is the most abundant phytochemicals in hexane extracts. The highest concentration of flavonoids and phenols were identified in hexane and methanol extracts, respectively. The highest antioxidant potential (DPPH assay) was observed in acetone extract. The ethanolic extract exhibited a two-fold higher ORAC than the methanol extract. This examination demonstrated the inhibitory effect against a set of microbes and the presence of polar and non-polar constituents of N. cataria. The results of this study provide a safe resource for the development of food, agriculture, pharmaceutical, and other industrial products upon further research validation.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Nepeta transcaucasica Grossh. and Nepeta cataria L. Cultivated in Bulgaria and Their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity

“…There are data in the literature on the antioxidant activity of Nepeta species extracts 23 with different polar solvents, making it difficult to compare.…”

“…This action is explained by the presence of nepetalactone in the oil . It shows good antibacterial activity, especially on Salmonella typhi, against the yeast Candida albicans and other micro-organisms. ,− , …”

“…cataria has been the subject of several studies by authors from different countries. The oxygenated monoterpenes such as citronellal, neral, geranial, citronellol, nerol, and geraniol, some small amounts of other oxygenated monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes such as β-caryophyllene and α-humulene have been identified as the main components in its composition − as and other volatile aromatic compounds. ,, The comparative analysis of these studies shows that the amount of the main components varies depending on the origin of the plant, the soil and climatic conditions, the individual stages of its development, and the methods of drying the raw material before distillation . The essential oil has proven antimicrobial ,,,− and antioxidant activity. ,− It also exhibits other biological properties, ,,,, which is why it finds a variety of applications. , …”

Essential oil composition and antimicrobial potential of aromatic plants grown in the mid-hill conditions of the Western Himalayas

“…B. subtilis also showed susceptibility to N. cataria (1%). N. cataria extracts have been reported to show high inhibitions of B. subtilis and M. luteus as indicated by the MIC values 93 . It might be inferred from the results that P. graveolens and N. cataria show potent inhibitory activity against some selective Gram-positive pathogenic strains.…”

Behavioral and electrophysiological study in Colossoma macropomum treated with different concentrations of Nepeta cataria oil in an immersion bath revealed a therapeutic window for anesthesia

“…A study carried out by De Souza et al (2019) found the anesthetic effect of the Nepeta cataria plant (EON), popularly known as cat grass, on juvenile Tambaqui. Other studies have evaluated the action of N. cataria as an antibiotic, antiparasitic and antioxidant (Nadeem et al 2022;Tan et al, 2019;Khan et al 2012). Thus, this article aims to investigate the action of Nepeta cataria in juvenile Colossoma macropomum submitted to immersion baths in different concentrations, evaluating behavior and cardiac and respiratory activity, identifying the main morphographic changes in electrocardiographic recordings and indicating a concentration window for safe anesthesia.…”