Abstract
Species of the genus Mentha produce essential oils which are widely used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Current study evaluates the potential for in vitro propagation and estimates mass production of plantlets of Mentha species. Nine species ( M. piperita, M. suaveolens, M. canadensis, M. longiflora, M. aquatica, M. arvensis, Mentha x gracilis, M. gracilis and M. spicata ) were propagated with five successive 30-day subcultures in MS medium supplemented with NAA (0.05 µM) and BAP (4.4 µM). Shoots were rooted in MS with IBA, IAA or NAA (0.0; 0.25; 0.5; 2.5 or 5.0 µM). The rooted plantlets were finally acclimatized in a greenhouse. Studied species increased in multiplication rates between 4.2 and 9.0-fold per month. M. piperita , M. longiflora , M. arvensis , M. x gracilis and M. gracilis showed the greatest potential for plantlet production since the estimated production varied between 6,000 and 27,000 plantlets after five 30-days subcultures. The addition of auxin to the medium did not influence root induction. However, IAA at a concentration of 5 µM provided the best results for root length and fresh weight, with averages 11.1 cm and 0.16 g, respectively. Survival of plantlets reached 100% during the greenhouse acclimatization process.
Highlights
Mentha plants produce a large amount of essential oils of high commercial value, such as carvone, dihydrocarvone, menthone, menthol, pulegone, linalool and linalyl acetate
Material and methods Nodal segments approximately 1.0 cm long, containing two axillary buds from the species Mentha piperita, M. suaveolens, M. canadensis, M. longiflora, M. aquatica, M. arvensis, Mentha x gracilis, M. gracilis and M. spicata were used as starter explants
Similar results were obtained for M. viridis by Raja and Arockiasamy (2008) and for M. arvensis by Maity et al (2011), who took into account in vitro propagation of nodal segments in an MS medium supplemented with 4.4 μM BAP and verified the formation of shoots at an average height of 3.2 cm and 4.4 cm, respectively
Summary
Mentha plants produce a large amount of essential oils of high commercial value, such as carvone, dihydrocarvone, menthone, menthol, pulegone, linalool and linalyl acetate. Biochemical and pharmacological studies have attributed antioxidant, anti-allergic, antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial and cancer-cell inhibiting effects to these compounds (McKAY; BLUMBERG, 2006). Menthol, produced in specialized glands in the leaves, stems and flowers of. Biological Sciences plants of the genus, is economically the most important of them all. The compound is renowned for its anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties, widely used in the production of drugs used in cases of sore throats. Menthol is used in the production of cosmetics, food and sanitary products (CHAKRABORTY; CHATTOPADHYAY, 2008)
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