Abstract:
Peppermint (Mentha sp.) is one of the most cultivated medicinal plant worldwide due to its diverse range of products in which it can be used. The main natural product (Herba Menthae) is used in pharmaceutical industry, as an additive and flavor in food industry and the extracted essential oil is used in numerous cosmetic and selfcare products. This study’s purpose is to quantify a series of biometrical and physiological elements of some species which pertain to Mentha genus from USAMV’s “Collection of Medicinal Plants”, which influence the raw material’s quality and the quantity of essential oils. The studied mint species are Mentha viridis var. crispata (Schrod) Beck Ecotype 2, Mentha longifolia
(L.) Hudson Ecotype 2, Mentha spicata var. viridis L., Mentha longifolia (L.) Hudson Ecotip 1, Mentha viridis var. crispata (Schrod) Beck Ecotype 1. The study followed the influence of the leaf surface, the content of chlorophyll pigments, but also the total leaf number on the production of volatile oil. Being a very important parameter in the reception and estimation of needed quantity of raw material, drying efficiency was determined for each cultivar. The highest amount of volatile oil was obtained from two ecotypes of the Mentha viridis var. crispata (Schrod) Beck species, in a percentage of 0.54% and 0.58%, and the lowest amount from Mentha longifolia (L.) Hudson Ecotype 2. The results are showing that the quantity of volatile oil is influenced by the leaf surface, especially by the basal leaves.
It is being proved that the amount of the volatile oil is influenced by the leaf surface, its placement and the chlorophyll pigments content and the cultivar factor, in the same environmental conditions.
