Skip to main content
Log in

Evaluation of a chemotype of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) grown in Siwa Oasis, Egypt

European Food Research and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A distinguishable chemotype of spearmint (Mentha spicata) was found in Siwa Oasis, Egypt. The locals in very limited areas grow this type. Stolones of this type were transplanted to some other locations in Egypt namely; Owainate, Kharga, Samallot, and Arish. The oil content in the air-dried herb grown in Siwa reached 2.93 and 2.99% in the seasons of 2001 and 2002, respectively. The oil content of that type increased to 3.85 and 3.90%, in the two seasons when it was cultivated in Owainat territory, while it decreased to 1.59 and 1.61% when cultivated in Arish territory. These two geographical locations greatly differed in the average, maximum and minimum temperatures, relative humidity, sunshine duration, and solar radiation. Samples of spearmint distributed in the local market and cultivated around Cairo contained only 1.28% oil. In oils of Siwa mint cultivated in the different locations, carvone was the main constituent; its content ranged between 42.23 and 57.61%, while limonene came in the second rank ranging between 26.15 and 34.83%. In contrast, oil of spearmint collected from the local market (grown in Cairo) was characterized by higher carvone (73.18%) and lower limonene (5.00%) contents. Siwa mint is a distinguishable type of spearmint regarding its oil content and composition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Lange BM, Croteau R (1999) Curr Opin Plant Biol 2:139–144

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ministry of Agriculture (1999) Agricultural statistics. Agricultural Statistics Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Cairo, Egypt

  3. Kokkini S, Papageorgiou VP (1987) Planta Medica 54:59–60

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kokkini S, Karousou R, Lanaras T (1995) Biochem Syst Ecol 23(4):425–430

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Misra LN, Tyag BR, Thakur RS (1989) Planta Medica 55:575–576

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. TackholmV (1974) Students flora of Egypt. Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

  7. Sadtler R. (1986) The Sadtler standard gas chromatography retention index library vol 4. Sadtler Research Laboratories, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  8. Stenhagen E, Abrahamsson S, McLafferty F (1974) Registry of mass spectral data. Wiley, New York

  9. Kokkini S, Vokou D (1989) Econ Bot 43:192–202

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kukreja AK, Dhawan OP, Ahuja PS, Shushil K, Kumar S (2000) J Genet Breed 54(2):109–115

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sharma S, Tyagi BR, Naqvi, AA, Thakur RS (1992) J Essent Oil Res 4(4):411–416

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Shahi AK, Chandra S, Dutt P, Kaul BL, Aldo T, Pinarosa A, Chandra S, Dutt P, Tava A, Avota P (1999) Flav Frag J 5–8

  13. Voirin B, Brun N, Bayet C (1990) Phytochemistry 29(3):749–755

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Burbott A, Loomis W (1967) Plant Physiol 42:20–25

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hefendehl FW, Murray MJ (1976) Lloydia 39:39–52

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Linkoln DE, Murray M, Lawrence BM (1986) Phytochemistry 25(8):1857–1863

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Croteau R (1991) Planta Medica. 57 (suppl):S10–S14

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. E. Edris.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Edris, A.E., Shalaby, A.S., Fadel, H.M. et al. Evaluation of a chemotype of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) grown in Siwa Oasis, Egypt. Eur Food Res Technol 218, 74–78 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-003-0802-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-003-0802-4

Keywords

Navigation