Chemical diversity of volatile compounds of mints from southern part of Pannonian plain and Balkan Peninsula - new data

Mints are the most popular economic and traditional herbs. The aim of this paper was chemical characterization of volatile compounds from wild populations of Mentha aquatica , M . arvensis , M . longifolia , M . microphylla, M . pulegium , M . spicata , M . × dumetorum , M . × gentillis and M . × verticillata , as well as cultivated samples of M . spicata , M . × piperita 'Alba' and M . × piperita 'Crispa'. Analyses were performed directly from dried aerial parts (herb) of collected samples by Headspace Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry. In total 54 compounds were detected, representing from 89.99% to 99.66% of volatile fractions of all investigated samples. The recorded volatiles were primarily monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes, while oxygenated aromatic monoterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and aliphatic compounds were present in lower concentrations in analyzed samples. The major components were linalool, limonene, 1,8-cineol, α -terpinyl acetate, pulegone, β-pinene and menthol. The cluster analysis revealed five main groups or chemotypes according to qualitative and quantitative content of volatiles, as well as similarities among samples. These results contribute to the knowledge on the mints chemistry in Pannonian plain and Balkan Peninsula.

Keywords: Mentha; SE Europe; Serbia; hemotypes; volatiles.