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. 2023 Dec 1:14:1292224.
doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1292224. eCollection 2023.

Steps to achieve carvone-rich spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) essential oil: a case study on the use of different distillation methods

Jalil Moradi-Sadr  1 , Mohammad-Taghi Ebadi  1 , Mahdi Ayyari  1
Affiliations

Steps to achieve carvone-rich spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) essential oil: a case study on the use of different distillation methods

Jalil Moradi-Sadr et al. Front Plant Sci. .

Abstract

Introduction: Spearmint essential oil is a valuable medical and food product. Spearmint essential oil is effective for the treatment of flatulence, indigestion, nausea, and colic along with Alzheimer, obesity, and fungal infections.

Methods: This study evaluated the quality and quantity of spearmint essential oil by examining some extraction strategies. The procedures were hydro-distillation, hydro-steam distillation, microwave-assisted hydro-distillation, and open hydro-distillation. The hydro-distillation had five pH levels (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) and four NaCl concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2%). microwave-assisted hydro-distillation at a power of 225 W was applied for 60, 90, and 120 minutes for process durations. The solvent extraction of herbal distillate obtained by an open hydro-distillation system was done using n-pentane and n-hexane to achieve a recovered essential oil by a rotary evaporator.

Results and discussion: The results showed that the lowest pH in the hydro-distillation process led to obtaining double yield compared to the control. Additionally, at 1 and 1.5% NaCl concentrations, the oil yield increased by 12.86 and 20.87%, respectively. Although the yield was reduced by microwave-assisted hydro-distillation, however within 120 minutes, carvone increased by 12.7% and limonene decreased by 42.3%. The best quality of spearmint oil belonged to solvent extraction followed by rotary evaporator.

Keywords: distillation; hydro-steam; microwave; solvent extraction; spearmint.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic and graphic illustrations of hydro-distillation (A), microwave-assisted hydro-distillation (B), hydro-steam distillation (C), and open hydro-distillation (D) experimental apparatuses; (1: plant material and distilled water, 2: condenser, 3: cold water in, 4: cold water out, 5, plant material container, 6: dropped extract, 7: vapor producer water and returned extract, 8: condensed recovered EO with water).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The essential oil content of evaluated procedures. HD: hydro-distillation, HSD: hydro-steam distillation, MAHD: microwave-assisted hydro-distillation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The heat map of major volatile compounds of SEO in control and treatments. HD, hydro-distillation; HSD, hydro-steam distillation; N percentage of NaCl in salted water; MW, microwave-assisted hydro-distillation; REOP, recovered essential oil extracted using n-pentane; and REOH, recovered essential oil extracted using n-hexane.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Classification of the SEOs components. HD, hydro-distillation; HSD, hydro-steam distillation; MAHD, microwave-assisted hydro-distillation; REO, recovered essential oil.
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