Herbicidal Activity of Nepeta flavida Essential Oil

Abstract

Chemical components of the essential oil of Nepeta flavida (aerial parts), collected from Duzici region of Osmaniye province (Turkey) was investigated. A total of forty-one compounds were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Among these, the major compounds were found to be linalool (37.64 %) and 1,8-cineole (30.80 %). Herbicidal activity of the essential oil of N. flavida in different concentrations (0.25-8.0 mu l/ml) was studied on the seeds of Lepidium sativum, Raphanus sativus and Eruca sativa . It was found that the essential oil at 4.0 and 8.0 mu l/ml concentrations completely inhibited the germination of all tested species.