University of Tehran Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science 2008-482X 49 3 2018 11 22 Effect of water deficit stress on yield characteristics, antioxidant capacity and metabolite profile of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) Effect of water deficit stress on yield characteristics, antioxidant capacity and metabolite profile of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) 715 727 69024 10.22059/ijhs.2017.238562.1291 FA Gholamreza Abdi Former Ph. D. Student, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Majid Shokrpour Associate Professor, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Seyed Alireza Salami Assistant Professor, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Cinzia M. Bertea Professor, Plant Physiology Unit, Department of Plant Biology, University of Turin, Innovation Centre, Via Quarello 11/A 10135 Turin, Italy Journal Article 2017 07 25 Medicinal Plants are almost reach sources of natural antioxidants such as terpenoids and phenolic compounds and have great potential as an alternative for synthetic antioxidants against oxidative stresses. Peppermint (<em>Mentha piperita</em>) infusion is a valuable worldwide source of antioxidants. The antioxidant property can be enhanced by inducing abiotic stresses. This experiment was conducted to evaluate prolong (4 months) water deficit stress (no stress, mild stress and severe stress as 100, 75 and 50% of field capacity, respectively) on cultivated peppermint on plant growth, secondary metabolite profile and antioxidant capacity of peppermint infusions. Both water deficit stress treatment decresed plant height, leaf wet and dry weight and leaf size significantly. Also, water deficit stress increased antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents significantly. Some phenolic compounds such as quercetin, coumaric acid and luteolin were detected only in water-deficit conditions. Also, the amount of some identified amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids were changed under water deficit stress. Therefore, inducing water stress can enhance the biological value of peppermint and improve bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of peppermint extract. Medicinal Plants are almost reach sources of natural antioxidants such as terpenoids and phenolic compounds and have great potential as an alternative for synthetic antioxidants against oxidative stresses. Peppermint (<em>Mentha piperita</em>) infusion is a valuable worldwide source of antioxidants. The antioxidant property can be enhanced by inducing abiotic stresses. This experiment was conducted to evaluate prolong (4 months) water deficit stress (no stress, mild stress and severe stress as 100, 75 and 50% of field capacity, respectively) on cultivated peppermint on plant growth, secondary metabolite profile and antioxidant capacity of peppermint infusions. Both water deficit stress treatment decresed plant height, leaf wet and dry weight and leaf size significantly. Also, water deficit stress increased antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents significantly. Some phenolic compounds such as quercetin, coumaric acid and luteolin were detected only in water-deficit conditions. Also, the amount of some identified amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids were changed under water deficit stress. Therefore, inducing water stress can enhance the biological value of peppermint and improve bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of peppermint extract. https://ijhs.ut.ac.ir/article_69024_52a64caf836991a4eca98c6f032df4db.pdf