Fig. 2.
GC-MS chromatograms of leaf tissue extract of three Nepeta species.N. cataria produced primarily cis-trans-nepetalactone, while N. mussinii produced primarily trans-cis-nepetalactone. A third Nepeta species, N. racemosa, was also analysed but was found to have the same chemical composition as N. cataria, and was not analysed further. Authentic standards of cis-trans and trans-cis-nepetalactones are shown for comparison. One representative GC-MS chromatogram from each species is shown; three biological replicates showed consistent nepetalactone profiles. The peak highlighted with a star is an unknown isomer of nepetalactone.