GC/MS analysis of the volatile constituents of Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savissp nepeta from Southeastern France

Volatile constituents from wild Calamintha nepeta (L.) subsp. nepeta harves ted in the autumn in the vicinity of Marseilles were analyzed by GC and GC/ MS on nonpolar and polar columns, respectively. Among the 120 identified co mpounds, the 11 major constituents were: menthone (52.7%), pulegone (9.1%), piperitone (7.8%), neomenthol (7.6%), menthol (4.3%), limonene (4.0%), iso menthone (1.7%) and 3-octanol (1.6%). Several esters of isovaleric and 2-me thylbutyric acids, 14 monoterpenes and 8 sesquiterpenes (hydrocarbons), and many other compounds were present in trace amounts including piperitone ox ide, and piperitenone oxide. By comparison with other chemotypes, viz., C. nepeta ssp. glandulosa, described in the literature, our sample belongs to the menthone/pulegone chemotype which is the most common one.