Rosmarinic Acid in Underground Parts of Different Mentha Species

Abstract

Abstract Background Mints (Mentha L., Lamiaceae) are medicinal plants frequently used in pharmacy, cosmetics, and food industry. Among the secondary metabolites found in mint, rosmarinic acid is one of the most abundant in the whole plant. Rosmarinic acid is known as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Aim There is much information about the use and profile of secondary metabolites of mint's aerial parts. On the contrary, less is known about the secondary metabolites in the rhizomes. So, this research intended to determine the content of rosmarinic acid in the underground parts of 10 species of the genus Mentha, section Mentha. Method High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) was used to identify and determine rosmarinic acid. Results Rosmarinic acid was detected in all 10 species. The highest amount was found in Mentha × piperita L. “BULHARSKA 1” and Mentha rotundifolia (L.) Huds. The lowest content of rosmarinic acid was found in Mentha arvensis L., and a slightly higher content was measured in Mentha × piperita L. Conclusion The underground parts of mints seem to be an interesting source of natural antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid.