Chemical compositions of the essential oil from peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) cultivated in Isfahan conditions

Abstract

Background & Aim: Peppermint (<em>Mentha piperita</em> L.) oil is one of the most popular and widely used as an essential oil. The aim of this study was to identify of the chemical components of peppermint cultivated in Isfahan climatic conditions. Experimental: The aerial parts of the plants were collected from a filed in Meymeh, Isfahan province in 2012. The essential oil was extracted by a Clevenger approach and analyzed using GC/MS. Results & Discussion: In total, 29 compounds were identified in the essential oil from the aerial parts peppermint. The results obtained in our study indicated that the major components in the oil were camphane (14.01%), menthone (13.89%), menthol (12.37%) β-pinene (7.62%), pulegone (6.41%), β-cubebene (4.95%), α-pinene (4.743%), γ-terpinene (4.08%), delta-carane (3.81%) and piperiton (3.04%). Recommended applications/industries: The oil contents of peppermint varied slightly from year to year mostly due to variations in yearly growing weather conditions.