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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » Natural Products Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #311258
Title: Diurnal effects on Mentha canadensis oil yields and composition at two different harvests

Author
item SHIWAKOTI, SANTOSH - University Of Wyoming
item SINTIM, HENRY - University Of Wyoming
item POUDYAL, SHITAL - University Of Wyoming
item BUFFALO, JENNIFER - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item Cantrell, Charles
item ASTATKIE, TESSEMA - Dalhousie University
item JELIAZKOVA, EKATERINA - University Of Wyoming
item CIAMPA, LYN - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item ZHELJAZKOV, VALTCHO - University Of Wyoming

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/19/2014
Publication Date: 1/10/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62320
Citation: Shiwakoti, S., Sintim, H., Poudyal, S., Buffalo, J., Cantrell, C.L., Astatkie, T., Jeliazkova, E., Ciampa, L., Zheljazkov, V.D. 2015. Diurnal effects on Mentha canadensis oil yields and composition at two different harvests. HortScience. 50(1):85-89.

Interpretive Summary: Japanese cornmint, also known as menthol mint, (Mentha canadensis L. syn M. arvensis var canadensis L.), is an essential oil crop cultivated in several countries in Asia and South America. Japanese cornmint is grown in India, China, Japan, Paraguay and Brazil and to a limited extend in Eastern Europe. The plant is currently the only commercially viable source for natural menthol due to the high concentration of menthol in the oil. Menthol is an important monoterpene used in the pharmaceutical, therapeutic, food and cosmetic industries. The United States is a major importer and user of menthol and demontolized oil, however, there is no production of natural menthol in this country. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of harvest time within a 24-h period on essential oil yield and composition of Japanese cornmint. This study demonstrated that harvesting time may affect essential oil yield and composition of Japanese cornmint grown at high altitude in Northern Wyoming.

Technical Abstract: Japanese cornmint, also known as menthol mint, (Mentha canadensis L. syn M. arvensis var canadensis L.), is an essential oil crop cultivated in several countries in Asia and South America. The plant is currently the only commercially viable source for natural menthol due to the high concentration of menthol in the oil. The hypothesis of this study was that harvesting time within a 24 h period will have an effect on essential oil yield and composition of Japanese cornmint grown at high altitude in Northern Wyoming. Flowering plants were harvested every 2 h on Aug 7th – 8th (Harvest 1) and again on Aug 14th -15th (Harvest 2) and the essential oil was extracted and analyzed on gas chromatograph-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Harvest date (Harvest 1 and Harvest 2) and harvest time (12 times within 24-h period) were significant on the oil yield (content), on the yield of menthol, whereas harvest date alone was significant on the concentration of menthol in the oil. The interaction effect of oil harvest date and harvest time were significant on moisture content, on the concentrations of menthol and menthofuran in the oil, as well as on the yield on limonene, menthol, and menthofuran. Overall, the oil yield in g per 100 g dried material (1.26 and 1.45, respectively), the concentration of menthol in the oil (67.2 and 72.9%, respectively) and menthol yield were higher in plants at Harvest 2 than at Harvest 1. The oil yield in dried Japanese cornmint was higher in plants harvested at 11:00 AM and at 1:00 AM and lower in the plants harvested at 3:00 AM. Menthol yield was the highest in plants harvested at 1:00 PM and lower in the plants harvested at 7:00 AM, 7:00 PM and 3:00 AM. This study demonstrated that harvesting time may affect essential oil yield and composition of Japanese cornmint grown at high altitude in Northern Wyoming.