The effect of some ecological characteristics (climate, soil, water content, and altitude) on the quality and antibacterial activity of Stachys inflata Benth. essential oil based on the indigenous knowledge of Iranian people

Stachys inflata Benth. (Lamiaceae) is a critically important medicinal species in traditional Iranian medicine, yet the precise ecological drivers of its phytochemical plasticity and therapeutic efficacy remain poorly understood. This study provides a comprehensive investigation into how multi-dimensional ecological factors—including altitude, soil physicochemical properties, water content, and climate—influence the essential oil profile and antibacterial potency of S. inflata across seven disti