Volatile aroma constituents of three labiatae herbs growing wild in the Karakoram-Himalaya district and their antifungal activity by vapor contact

Ethyl acetate extracts from the flowers and leaves of Perovskia abrotanoides Karel., Nepeta juncea Benth. and Thymus linearis Benth. growing wild at 2000-3500 m a.s.l. in the Karakoram-Himalaya district were analyzed by GC/MS. The major volatile constituents were 1,8-cineole (24.4-27.1%) and alpha -pinene (18.2-23.2%) for P. abrotanoides, and nepetalactone (71.8%) for N. juncea. Two chemotypes of T. linearis were found in different area, a thymol/carvacrol type in the areas of Hunts and Rupal Valley, and a geraniol/geranyl acetate t,vpe in the area of Rakaposhi Valley. Herbs and their major constituents of N. juncea and T. linearis showed potent antifungal activity by vapor contact, but those of P. abrotanoides showed no significant activity.