Evaluation of the chemical components and some bioactive compounds of the peppermint essential oil (Mentha arvensis L.) cultivated in Vietnam

Abstract

Vietnam has diverse plant resources and many species are considered to be valuable medicinal sources. Studying, seeking, and evaluating the bioactive compounds from plants is a valuable research endeavor for producing human healthcare products. Peppermint (Mentha arvensis L.) is widely cultivated in Vietnam as a raw material for the production of essential oils serving local needs and exports. This study compared the chemical components and some bioactive compounds in essential oil from Mentha arvensis L. cultivated in Thai Binh, Binh Thuan, and An Giang provinces. The essential oil yields in all samples ranged from 0,69 to 0,84%. Gas chromatography analyses identified 29 substances in total. Menthol and menthone were the two main ingredients in the oils, accounting for 53.62-62.61% and 18.81-21.06%, respectively. Furthermore, all essential oils exhibited free radical scavenging capacity in vitro and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli. The plants collected in Thai Binh had the highest content of essential oil, menthol, and menthone, as well as the strongest bioactivities.