Abstract
During the process of distillation, the hydrophilic part of the essential oil dissolves in the aqueous distillate that is generally considered waste and discarded. The decanted (main essential oil) and hydrophilic (recovered essential oil) fractions of peppermint (Mentha piperita cv Kukrail) and spearmint (Mentha spicata cv MSS-5) essential oils were investigated by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The decanted essential oils of spearmint and peppermint were richer in monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons compared to the recovered essential oils. In peppermint, oxygenated monoterpenes (82.85–85.59%), especially alcohols, were higher in recovered essential oil (58.22%) than decanted essential oil (41.03%). Similarly, in spearmint, the percentage of oxygenated monoterpenes was higher in recovered essential oil (83.08%) than decanted oil (59.84%). The recovered and decanted essential oils of both Mentha species demonstrated low to moderate antimicrobial activity against five bacterial strains.
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