Extraction of nepeta and actinidia species

This study is to introduce two types of species which have been used as cat attractants. They are Nepeta species and Actinidia species. Nepeta species comes from a family of Lamiaceae while the other species come from Actinidiaceae family. Nepeta cataria which is known as catnip is the species that involved in cat attractant agent. It is believed to have insect repellent activity against mosquitoes due to the presence of nepetalactone. Nepeta species is also believed to have antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria such as S.aureus, K, pneumoniae and S.typhii. Actinidia polygama is the species used as cat attractant. Previous research found that Actinidia species have anti-obesity effect and anti-inflammatory activity. The research objectives had been achieved. The biological uses of both Nepeta and Actinidia species were well reviewed, based on the literatures. Crude extracts of Actinidia and Nepeta had been prepared by using three different polarity of three different solvents. In the methodology, the extraction and thin layer chromatography as well as phytochemical screening had been performed to examine the natural compounds of both species. Preparative TLC also had been done to isolate the target compound. The isolated compound were then subjected to the NMR spectroscopy. Based on the results obtained, it is found that Nepeta sample contains saponin and terpene without the presence of alkaloid and saponin. Meanwhile, in Actinidia sample, it contains alkaloid, saponin and terpene with the absence of phenol. The NMR spectrum of the isolated compound also showed the presence of mixture of two or more compounds. Unfortunately, the target compound which was nepetalactone could not be detected in the isolated compound. In future research, another technique of extraction such as column chromatography can be performed to obtain better result of isolation of the target compound.