Abstract The constituents of the essential oil obtained by the hydrodistillation of Nepeta heliotropifolia Lam. were investigated by GC and GC/MS analysis. The oil contains over 25 components. The major components were 1,8-cineole (19.0%), caryophyllene oxide (14.2%), Î²-caryophyllene (11.3%), spathulenol (8.3%), myrtenol (5.9%), trans-Î²-farnesene (5.1%), trans-pinocarveol (4.2%) and Î±-terpineol (4.1%)