Characterization of the essential oil of Agastache rugosa by NMR spectroscopy

The composition of essential oil from Agastache rugosa (Fish. et Mey) O.Kuntze was studied by H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. Essential oil was isolated from the aerial part of plants growing in the Central Botanical Garden of the NAS of Belarus during flowering and fruiting. The oil chemical composition was found to depend little on the sampling time. It was shown that NMR spectroscopy could be successfully used to both monitor the content of the hepatotoxic substance (pulegone) and characterize the quality and authenticity of essential oils.