title: Seasonal variability of the main components in essential oil of Mentha × piperita L.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mentha × piperita is an important and commonly used flavoring plant worldwide. Its constituents, primarily menthol and menthone, change in the essential oil depending on internal and external factors, of which environmental conditions appear very important. The experiment was established in 2010 for three vegetation season, in order to observe the quantitative changes of the main components of peppermint. The determination of menthol, menthone, limonene, menthyl acetate, menthofuran and β-caryophyllene was registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the experimental season 2011 and 2012 a higher mean temperature than in 2010 and extreme rainfall in July 2011 and 2012 were recorded. Different environmental conditions affected the development of M. × piperita plants and the content and composition of the essential oil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seasonal and maturity variations are interlinked with each other, because the specific ontogenic growth stage differed as the season progressed. Fluctuations in monthly and seasonal temperature and precipitation patterns affected the quality of peppermint essential oil.
authors: Department of Ecology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Prešov, 17 November St, 081 16, Prešov, Slovak Republic.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Grulova
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: De Martino
authors: Emilia
authors: E
authors: Mancini
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Salamon
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: De Feo
mesh_terms: D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000032:analysis; D000077222:Limonene; D036142:Mentha piperita / Q000737:chemistry*; D008610:Menthol / Q000032:analysis; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000032:analysis; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012621:Seasons; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D053138:Cyclohexenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; D008610:Menthol; C054487:menthofuran; D000077222:Limonene; C019466:menthone; C015424:peppermint oil; C024714:caryophyllene
keywords: developmental stage; menthol; menthone; peppermint; vegetation season