Diversity in chemical composition and yield of essential oil from two Mentha species

Abstract

The genus Mentha, which belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae). Essential oil yield and chemical components of two Mentha species including Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. and (Mentha spicata L.) collected from three ecotypes in Iran were investigated. The essential oils of samples were obtained by hydro-distillation, and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A significant difference (p < 0.05) in oil yields was obtained from the aerial parts of two Mentha species. The essential oil yields were obtained from the aerial of M. longifolia, 0.62, 0.85 and 1.24 ml / 100 g dry matter identified in Ardestan, Saman and Kuhrang province, respectively and the aerial of M. spicata, 0.49, 1.02 and 1.54 ml / 100 g dry matter identified in Ardestan, Saman and Kuhrang province, respectively. Results indicated significant differences (p < 0.01) among the aerial for the main constituents in the essential oil from two Mentha species. The major constituents of the essential oil from the aerial of M. longifolia collected from Ardestan province were pulegone (31.21%), 1,8-cineole (23.01%), sabinene (6.76%), the aerial of M. longifolia collected from Saman province were pulegone (31.06%), 1,8-cineole (24.34%), sabinene (7.45%) and the aerial of M. longifolia collected from Kuhrang province were pulegone (36.42%) and 1,8-cineole (29.49%). The major constituents of the essential oil from the aerial of M. spicata collected from Ardestan province were 1,8-cineole (35.28%), carvone (30.71%), the aerial of M. spicata collected from Saman province were carvone (35.37%), 1,8-cineole (24.35%), pulegone (18.67%) and the aerial of M. spicata collected from Kuhrang province were carvone (41.51%), 1,8-cineole (25.95%). Generally, a comparison of our results with the previous reports suggests differences in the essential oil compositions and oil yield of the plant material could be attributed to genetic diversity in two Menthe species.