GC-MS fingerprints of mint essential oils

Abstract

AbstractEssential oils from eleven Mentha species were obtained by Deryng hydrodistillation and analysed by GC–MS: 44 compounds were identified. The most abundant were menthone, isomenthone, menthol, carvone, piperitone oxide, D-limonene and eucalyptol. Chemometric similarity measures and principal component analysis were calculated, allowing comparisons based on secondary metabolite content. The fingerprints may be helpful in chemotaxonomy.