Phenolics’ composition in four endemic Nepeta species from Iran cultivated under experimental field conditions: The possibility of the exploitation of Nepeta germplasm

Abstract

This study was aimed at exploring the possibilities for the exploitation of valuable germplasm of four Iranian Nepeta species, highlighting the opportunities for their economic development as crops. Selection of the most promising species for introducing into cultivation was based on the content of medicinally important phenolic compounds. Twenty nine accessions of four Iranian species, Nepeta kotschyi, N. menthoides, N. crassifolia, and N. cataria, cultivated under western Tehran (Iran) environmental conditions were assessed. Quantitative analysis of five targeted phenolic acids and five targeted flavonoids in methanol extracts was performed using UHPLC/-HESI-MS/MS method. Multivariate analyses of chemometric data (PCA and UPGMA) segregated N. kotschyi as a separate group with unique phenolics composition, characterized by high amounts of phenolic acids, especially chlorogenic acid. As expected, rosmarinic acid has been determined as the dominant phenolic compound in analyzed N. cataria, N. menthoides and N. crassifolia accessions. N. kotschyi is recognized as the most promising candidate species for an alternative crop, and “N16” and “N17” accessions as the most suitable for domestication and cultivation practices under specific environmental conditions provided here.