Comparison of physicochemical properties of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) distillate obtained from dry and fresh plant in vegetative and flowering stages and in different distillate to water ration

Articles in Press

Document Type : Full Paper

Authors

1 Department of Horticultural Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University

2 Department of Medicinal Plants, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO),

3 Department of Rangelands, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)

Abstract

This study investigated effects of harvest time and distillate to plant ration (2, 4, 6, and 8 L per 1 kg fresh plant) on physiochemical characters and essential oils in the peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) distillate. In addition, comparisons were made between distillate resulted from dried (drying in full shade, under sunlight+shade, and total sunlight) and fresh peppermint samples. Distillation was performed using the water distillation method. Standard protocols were used to investigate the physiochemical properties of distillate. Analysis of the essential oils were done using Gas Chromatography (GC) and GC-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Two-way analyses of variances showed significant effects of the harvest time and distillate to plant ration on ester no., oxidation no., iodine no., and essential oils quantity in the distillates. The highest amount of ester no. (10.8 ± 0.02) and oxidation no. (165.33 ± 70.46) was quantified in the vegetative stage and 4:1 ratio. Total amount of essential oils were higher in the flowering (37.83 ± 5.9) than the vegetative (28.25 ± 8.73) stages samples. In addition, distillates of 2:1 (35.50 ± 3.56) and 4:1 (40.33 ± 5.53) had higher essential oils than the other distillate treatments. Drying methods had significant effects on all physicochemical properties of distillates. Menthol (33.9-40.6 %) and menthone (11.3-34.9 %) were the highest components of the oils within the distillates. The results indicated the peppermint distillate may have higher quality when the plants harvested at flowering stage, dried at sunlight+shade, and distillate take at 2 and/or 4 L to 1 kg plant.

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Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 09 April 2024

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History

  • Receive Date: 28 January 2024
  • Revise Date: 26 March 2024
  • Accept Date: 09 April 2024

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