Overview Regarding the Bioactivity of Agastache foeniculum and Nepeta cataria Species * Simona DUDA, Liviu Al. MĂRGHITAŞ, Dan DEZMIREAN, Otilia BOBIŞ Department of Technological Sciences,[email protected] Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania *Corresponding author, email: Bulletin UASVM Animal Science and Biotechnologies 72(1) / 2015 Print ISSN 1843-5262; Electronic ISSN 1843-536X DOI:10.15835/buasvmcn-asb:10591 Abstract Agastache foeniculum Nepeta cataria In this study, we summarize the recent advances on chemical compositionet al., and bioactivity of giant hyssop ( et al., (Pursh) Kuntze) and catnip ( L.). Extracts from giant hyssop and catnip have a significant bioactivity, antibacterial and antioxidant activity (Suschke 2007; Zielińska and Matkowski, 2014; Mihaylova 2013). This literature review wants to emphasize the value of these two plants and the opportunity of using them to obtain bioactive extracts with applicability in beekeeping for different pest control. Different parts of the mentioned plants were used for the determination of active principles from macerates and essential oils. Spectrophotometric methods as well as high performance liquid chromatography and gasAgastache chromatography foeniculum are as generally used for determination of bioactive principles from theTribolium classes ofcastaneum polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids andRhyzopertha aromatic acids.dominica Remarkable results have been obtained Ephestia using kuehniella the essential oil from Plodia interpunctellaan insecticide for the control of pests like the Red flour beetle ( Herbst), Lesser grainNepeta borer cataria( F.), Mediterranean flour mothStaphylococcus( aureus) Klebsiellaand t h e pneumoniaeIndian meal Pseudomonasmoth ( aeruginosa, Escherichia) from the coligrain and and Bacillus food warehouses subtillis (Ebadollahi,et al., 2011). The anti-microbial activity of catnip ( ) was proven in over five bacterial strains: , , (Bandh 2011). Considering the results obtained and reported in the literature on the control of various pests and diseases, we consider appropriate to extend the research in the field of beekeeping as well, for a natural treatment of different bacterialKeywords: diseases Agastache and pests. foeniculum, Nepeta cataria anti-microbial, bio-insecticides , INTRODUCTION et al., 1941; Walker cited by Woods and DuBuy, In this study, we summarize the recent 1951), there is still much to be elucidated in the advances on chemical composition and bioactivity chemical composition of plants andApis their mellifera effects. Giant hyssop has been commercially cultivated as ofAgastache aerial parts foeniculum (leaves, stems and inflorescences) of et al., a source of nectar for honeybees ( giantNepeta hyssop cataria (or bluehe giant hyssop,Agastache licorice includes mint) ( (Pursh) Kuntze) and catnip L.) in Washington (Mayer 1982,et al., cited by ( L.). T genus Widrlechner, 1992; Senechal, 1990; Ayers and Widrlechner, 1994; Fuentes-Granados 1998), 22 speciesA. offoeniculum perennial andaromatic N. cataria medicinal herbs et al., because it excels at nectar production (Wilson (Vogelmann, 1983). AlthoughAgastache the study of the two 1992). Extracts from giant hyssop and species ( Nepeta) has been et al., carried out since 1945, for (Lint and catnip have a significant bioactivity, antibacterial Epling, 1945), and since 1941 for (McElvain and antioxidant activity (Mihaylova 2013; Zielińska and Matkowski, 2014). Agastache foeniculum and Nepeta cataria 25 Overview Regarding the Bioactivity of Species medicinalThis review plants. covers N. cata theria literature to summarize and aromatic acids (Vogelmann, 1984; Tisserand the mainNepeta constituents from both aromatic and and Young, 2014). (Catnip) is the most Essential oil from aerial parts of giant famous species, which has a long history of hyssop was isolated by the hydrodistillation use as tea in Europe before real tea was imported with Clevenger apparatus, and its chemical from the orientet al., (Herron, 2003).et al.,The flowering compositionet wasal., studied by gas chromatography tips ofNepeta the plant have also being used as a sedative mass spectrometry (Shakhnoza and Glushenkova catnip, drug (Newall 1996; Baser 2000). Some 2012; Srifi 2012; Zielińska and Matkowski, of the species areet al., used by bees as a source 2014). The chemical composition of of pollenC and nectar (Sammataro and Avitabile essential oils can be determined by GC–MS on 1998, cited by Celenk 2008).et al., an apolar stationary phase by comparison of the atnip is a perennial herb with a considerable characteristic fragmentation patterns with those folkloric reputation (Marchei 2010). A of the Wiley 275L database. Essentialet al.,oils were diethyl ether extract of this plant has been shown then fractionatedet al., by column chromatography to have antimicrobial activity etagainst al., fungi and packed with silica gel (Heuskin 2009; etGram-positive al., bacteria, have bacteriostatic and Ganzera Nepeta 2001). cataria fungistatic properties (Bourrel 1993; Nostro To determine the potential crop protection et al., 2001), andCatnip also with traditional uses that value of essential oils, the repellent relate to the treatment of inflammation (Prescott activity of the oils was assessed using a four-way aphid sex2011). pheromones produces and aphid predominantly parasitoid etolfactometer al., assay, with both oils showing stronget al., nepetalactone, which is also known to comprise repellent effects (Peterson and Coats, 2001; Schultz 2004; Webb and Russell, 2007; Birkett attractants. The availability of aphid sex 2010). Nepetalactones were Z analyzedE by reversed- pheromone components is now facilitating the phase HPLC coupled with UV and MS detection. development of new aphid pest control strategies, The linearity range for , -nepetalactone was incorporating the use of other semiochemicals, determined as 0.00655-0.655E Z mg/mL with particularly in the manipulationet al., of populations a correlation coefficient of 0.9999, and the of aphid parasitoids and aphid predators (Birkett linearity range of , -nepetalactone was found and Pickett, 2003; Birkett 2010). AphidiusAmeixa to be 0.00228–0.456 mg/mL with a correlation colemani,and Kindlmann conducting (2012) research have with found a positive coefficient of 0.9999, under UV detection at 228 nm. response regarding the aphid parasitoid The Z linearityE ranges were from 0.00164 to 0.0328 a mixture of odorsβ mg/mL, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999, E of synthetic and plant-extracted nepetalactone (a Zfor , -nepetalactone and 0.00114–0.0228 mg/ component of aphid sex pheromone) and (E)- - mL, with a correlation coefficientm/z of 0.9999, for , farnesene (aphid alarm pheromone). -nepetalactone by MS detection with selected ion This literature review wants to emphasize monitoring of ion peak 167. The MS detection the value of these two plants and the opportunity was found to be more sensitive than UV detection control.of using them to obtain bioactive extracts with and thiset method al., was validated as simple, reliable applicability in beekeeping, for different pest and sensitiveet foral. catnip nepetalactone analysis MATERIALS AND METHODS (Wang 2007).N. cataria Nostro (2000) used two methods of extraction from . In method A, a known Different parts of the mentioned plants wereet amount of 50 g powdered drug (which was al.,used for the determination of active principles sequentially extracted at room temperature with from macerates and essential oils (Nykänen petroleum ether (30ºC, 50ºC), dichloromethane, 1989). Spectrophotometric methods as well dichloromethane: methanol (9:1) and methanol as high performance liquid chromatography and (Arebalo and Mitchell, 1984; Chalchat and Lamy, gas chromatography is generally used for the 1997). The four extracts were concentrated to determination of bioactive principles from the dryness using a rotary evaporator at 40ºC. Inet classes of polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids method B, a known amount of 50 g powdered drug wasBulletin extracted UASVM Animal as Science reported and Biotechnologies by Al-Sarraj 72(1) / 2015 26 et al DUDA al. et al., Tribolium castaneum Rhyzopertha dominica (1985), cited by Nostro 2000. The drug beetle ( Ephestia kuehniellaHerbst), Lesser grain was suspended in enough distilled water to mealborer moth( Plodia interpunctellaF.), Mediterranean form a homogeneous suspension. The mixture flour moth ( ) and the IndianA. N was adjusted to pH 2.0 with HCl (1 ) and then foeniculum ( ) from the grain incubated at 37ºC for 30 min in a shaking water- and food warehouses (Ebadollahi,T. castaneum2011). bath. The mixture was then neutralized with NaOH oil revealed a strong toxicity (strong (1 N) to pH 7.0, filtered, extracted with diethyl larvicidal potential) against the ether and concentrated to dryness. The remaining larvae, but also decreased the activity of esterase aqueous extract was lyophilized. All solvents were and GST besides reducing total carbohydrate, purchased from Merck (Milan, Italy). The method lipid and protein contents. Results showed that B proved to be more efficient in extracting the the mortality of larvae was dose-dependent and active compounds and this could be ascribed to the increasing concentrations of the essential oil acidified aqueous environment, which promotes exacerbate mortality. Probit analysis showedet an easyRESULTS extraction. AND DISSCUSION al.,that LC50 and LCet90 al. values were