Effect of Storage Duration and Condition on Essential Oil Components of Mentha aquatica L.

This study examines how different storage conditions and times affect the essential oil (EO) percentage and components of dried water mint. Samples were collected from water mint flowering branches at a natural habitat. The experiment involved ۱۸ treatments and ۳ replications and was used by CRD. The treatments included two storage conditions (refrigeration at ۴±۱ °C, and storage in the shaded room at ۲۵±۲ °C with adequate airflow), three storage times (۶۰, ۱۲۰, and ۳۶۵ days after drying), and three drying methods (shade-drying at ۲۵±۲ °C, oven-drying at ۴۰ °C, and microwave-drying at ۲۰۰ W). Results revealed that an increase in storage time led to a decrease in EO components, which was more noticeable in samples stored at ۲۵±۲ °C conditions compared to those stored at ۴±۱ °C. Additionally, the type and amount of EO components differed under various storage conditions. The main compound in water mint EO was ۱,۸-cineole, with its highest content (۲۶.۵۵%) in samples dried in an oven at ۴۰ °C and kept in the refrigerator for ۱۲۰ days. The second significant EO compound was trans-caryophyllene, with higher content in shade-dried plants kept at ۲۵±۲ °C for ۱۲۰ days and lower content in samples dried in a ۲۰۰ W microwave and kept at ۲±۴°C with storage for ۳۶۵ days. The optimal treatment was oven-drying at ۴۰ °C and storage at ۲۵±۲ °C, which maintained EO components significantly better than other treatment groups. Findings could help the cosmetics industry produce required compounds through better management of EO components.

کلیدواژه ها:

Monoterpenes ، ۱ ، ۸-cineole ، Microwave ، postharvest