The Influence of Different Drying Methods on Essential Oil Content and Composition of Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) in Çukurova Conditions

Objective: Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) is largely cultivated and commercialized in several countries to produce peppermint oil and its medicinal compounds, cosmetic products and food purposes.1,2 In this study, the influence of different dying methods on essential oil content and composition of peppermint was determined. Material and Methods: The plants were dried separately in the sun, shadow and oven at 38oC for 48 h. The dry material was then submitted to hydro distillation in order obtain to essential oil. The chemical composition of essential oil from the flowering aerial part of peppermint analyzed by GC/MS. Results: Plant height (22.7 – 31.8 cm), fresh (750-992 kg da−1) and dry herbage yield (245 - 351 kg da−1) were measured. The highest essential oil content (3.68 %) was obtained from shadow drying method, the lowest value (2.78 %) was obtained from drying under sun. The major compounds (menthone and menthol) showed no sharp difference among the three drying methods. Conclusion: The drying method affected strongly the essential oil composition of dry peppermint.