Essential oil constituents, antimicrobial and herbicidal assays of lesser calamint (Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi subsp. nepeta) from East Mediterranean Region of Turkey

Abstract

Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi subsp. nepeta (Lamiaceae) has a widespread use in the mint family of the Angiosperms. Uses of the spectacular aromatic feature as well as immense medicinal properties of this species have been dated back to the antiquity in the Mediterranean life. Aerial parts of the Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi subsp. nepeta were collected from the wild ecosystems of the Amanos Mountains (East Mediterranean of Turkey). The hydrodistillated essential oil (EO) of the species were predominantly rich in with the following constituents; pulegone (43.02%) and menthone (28.09%). EO of the tested species had also notable antimicrobial activities. Minimum Inhibitory and Bacterio/Fungio-Cidal Concentrations (MIC and MBC/MFC) of C. nepeta' EO were 0.39/0.78 mu l/ml for B. subtilis, 0.19/0.78 mu l/ml for C. albicans and 0.78/0.78 mu l/ml for C. parapsilosis. In the herbicidal assay, a 100% inhibition of the seed germination, radicle and plumule growth of L. sativa was found at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/ml of the EO. The germination and seedling lengths of P. oleracea and L. sativum in response to 1.0 and 2.0 mg/ml of the EO treatment were the same as those found for L. sativa. Essential oil composition, antimicrobial as well as the herbicidal assays of the species from Amanos Mountans (East Mediterranean region of Turkey) could be regarded as the first report.