Response of Antioxidant Potential and Essential Oil Components to Irrigation and Fertilization on Three Mint Species (Mentha spp. L.)

Abstract

Mint (Mentha spp.), one of the most used plants in traditional medicine, is cultivated since antiquity, being mentioned by ancient writings. Besides its use for improving the human health, mint extracts are found in food, cosmetics, detergents, perfumes, biopesticides, etc. Due to its multiple benefits mint consumption has increased continuously in the last years. Besides the interest in mint yield, another interesting trait of this species is the antioxidant activity and the quality of essential oils. According to some research in the field, using water given by irrigation and fertilization leads to an increase of green mass production, but the level of essential oils remains the same. The aims of the present research were to determine the effects of irrigation, fertilization and species over the quality of mint and to identify the best matches of the experimental factors for increasing the antioxidants and essential oils content. Plant material was represented by M. spicata, M. piperita and M. suaveolens. Management followed the growing season of mint plants both in non-irrigated and irrigated conditions, with base fertilization and usage of Lignohumate. The analysis of samples was performed using Photochem where photochemical excitation of free radicals is combined with luminometric detection. The composition of the essential oil was determined by Gas chromatography with flame ionisation detector GC-FID. The research concludes that mint quality increased in conditions of no irrigation. For high phytonutrient content it is recommended to cultivate M. piperita, because it has the highest antioxidants content. M. spicata presented the essential oil with the best content of alcohols, esters and aromatic compounds. M. suaveolens reached the best level of esters, aldehydes and aromatic compounds only in the case of fertilization with Lignohumate.