Eco-phytochemistry of Nepeta asterotricha Rech. f. (Case study: Deh Bala, Yazd)

Ecological study of behavior is essential elements of the renewable natural resources. The study area in this research was Deh Bala where is one of the main habitat of N. asterotricha Rech. f. This plant is one of the 34 endemic species of Nepeta L. in Iran. In the study area, different parameters were determined such as essential oil, climate factors, phenology, co-dominant plants, morphology, vegetation variation, and physical and chemical properties of the soil. Results have showed that the plant is distributed in regions with pH=7.5±0.1, EC=0.633±0.06 ds/m with silt-loam texture. The average rainfall is 308.7 millimeters and average annual temperature is 12.2 centigrade in 10-years period. Density, frequency, and production were 0.7, 36.67%, and 46.78 (gr), respectively. The plant grows in March, flowering stage occurs in May and seeding happens at mid-June. The main component in flowering stage was 4aα,7β,7aα-nepetalactone (33.9%). 1,8-cineole, and cis-sabinene hydrate are the other main constitutions. Because of the importance of the plant, domestication and breeding program are urgently required.