Abstract
Consumers are becoming more mindful of their well-being. Increasing awareness of the many beneficial properties of peppermint essential oil (EO) has significantly increased product sales in recent years. Hydrodistillation (HD), a proven conventional method, and a possible alternative in the form of microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MWHD) have been used to isolate peppermint EO. Standard Soxhlet and alternatively supercritical fluid (SFE), microwave-assisted, and ultrasound-assisted extraction separated the lipid extracts. The distillations employed various power settings, and the EO yield varied from 0.15 to 0.80%. The estimated environmental impact in terms of electricity consumption and CO2 emissions suggested that MWHD is an energy efficient way to reduce CO2 emissions. Different extraction methods and solvent properties affected the lipid extract yield, which ranged from 2.55 to 5.36%. According to the corresponding values of statistical parameters, empiric mathematical models were successfully applied to model the kinetics of MWHD and SFE processes.
Highlights
Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) is a plant from Lamiaceae family that is cultivated worldwide
To ensure intensification of mass transfer, the plant material should be reduced to a suitable particle size, within relatively narrow limits, before the extraction step
The tissue structure of the ground plant material is disrupted, while a smaller particle reduces the duration of solvent diffusion and improves the mass transfer rate from the solid to the liquid phase
Summary
Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) is a plant from Lamiaceae family that is cultivated worldwide. Peppermint leaves and their essential oil (EO) have therapeutic properties as a gastric stimulant and carminative. Peppermint oil is among the most valued and extensively used EOs in flavoring of medications and formulations for oral care, chewing gums, cough syrups, sweets, and beverages. Peppermint EO has been found to have antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic activities [1]. Peppermint leaves have approximately 1.2–3.9% (v/w) of EO with more than 300 compounds detected. The chemical composition of peppermint leaves and oils differs with plant maturity, variety, geographical area, and growing environment [2]. Organic production is a practice of sustainable cultivation based on ecological principles through the rational use of natural resources, the consumption of renewable energy sources, the preservation of biodiversity and the protection of the ecosystem
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