Evaluation of chemical composition and bioefficacy of Nepeta ciliaris Benth. essential oil

• Nepeta essential oil was extracted and characterized by GC and GC-MS analysis. • The oil exhibited strong antioxidant activity in DPPH and Nitric oxide Assays. • Demonstrated antimicrobial effects against 5 bacterial strains and 3 fungal strains. • Showed Concentration and time dependent nematicidal activity. • Findings Support its potential as a natural, eco-friendly bio control agent. The present study reports the chemical composition and bioefficacy of essential oil derived from Nepeta ciliaris Benth collected from the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. A total of 34 constituents, representing 90.64% of the total oil, were identified among more than 45 detected compounds, highlighting a chemically rich profile. The oil demonstrated pronounced nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne incognita, evidenced by significant juvenile mortality and inhibition of egg hatching. Strong antioxidant potential was observed across multiple in vitro assays, including DPPH radical scavenging and nitric oxide activity, indicating effective free radical neutralisation capacity. Furthermore, the essential oil exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against five bacterial and three fungal strains, with measurable growth inhibition effects. Collectively, these findings reveal the multifunctional bioactivity of N. ciliaris essential oil and underscore its potential as a natural source of bioactive compounds for applications in sustainable agriculture, food preservation, and pharmaceutical formulations.