Research Article

Volatile composition and olfactory profile of pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) plants

  1. M. Consuelo Díaz-Maroto,
  2. Noelia Castillo*,
  3. Lucía Castro-Vázquez,
  4. Miguel Ángel González-Viñas,
  5. M. Soledad Pérez-Coello

Article first published online: 8 DEC 2006

DOI: 10.1002/ffj.1766

Issue

Flavour and Fragrance Journal

Flavour and Fragrance Journal

Volume 22, Issue 2, pages 114–118, March/April 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Díaz-Maroto, M. C., Castillo, N., Castro-Vázquez, L., Ángel González-Viñas, M. and Pérez-Coello, M. S. (2007), Volatile composition and olfactory profile of pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) plants. Flavour Fragr. J., 22: 114–118. doi: 10.1002/ffj.1766

Author Information

  1. Área de Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Campus Universitario 10, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain

*Área de Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Campus Universitario 10, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 JAN 2007
  2. Article first published online: 8 DEC 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 25 SEP 2006
  4. Manuscript Revised: 13 SEP 2006
  5. Manuscript Received: 17 JUL 2006

Funded by

  • Ministry of Science and Technology, Spain. Grant Number: AGL 2003-00188

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Keywords:

  • Mentha pulegium L;
  • pennyroyal;
  • volatile oil composition;
  • pulegone;
  • GC–MS;
  • GC–O

Abstract

The composition of volatile oil extracts of pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) plants was investigated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Those volatiles responsible for the characteristic minty and pungent aroma of this plant were determined by gas chromatography–olfactometry. Volatile oil extracts were found to be rich in oxygenated monoterpenes, mainly pulegone and piperitone oxide, followed by isopulegol, piperitone and piperitenone. Major monoterpenes hydrocarbons were limonene and α-pinene, while sesquiterpenoids were detected in low levels. With respect to the aroma characteristics, pulegone was found to have an intense mint, balsamic and pungent aroma. Other compounds with minty notes were isopulegone, piperitol and 1,8-cineole. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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