Individual sampling approach to study the chemodiversity of volatile and semivolatile compounds of Mentha longifolia L. growing wild in Jiloca basin (Spain)

Abstract

[EN] Volatile and semivolatile composition of 47 individuals of Mentha longifolia L. collected from five locations in Jiloca basin (Teruel, Spain) was investigated to give insight into sources of chemical variability. It was determined by Simultaneous Distillation Extraction using a Likens-Nickerson apparatus and subsequent analysis by GC/MS and GC/FID. The statistical analysis of results allowed to identify four chemotypes: (a) pulegone (63.94 %) + isomenthone (16.67 %); (b) piperitone oxide (15.53 %) + piperitenone oxide (50.32 %); (c) α-terpineol acetate (39.81 %) + carvone acetate (33.84 %) and (d): (Z)-sabinenhydrate (41.15 %) + 1-terpinen-4- ol (13.99 %). The last two chemotypes have never been reported so far. As the sampling locations were selected with similar environmental conditions, the co-occurrence of different chemotypes in the same population turned out to be very noticeable. These results support the advisability of individual sampling instead of mixing material from randomly selected individuals, in order to identify and make available selected chemotypes for their propagation. It may be particularly useful for applied purposes based on relationships between chemical composition and biological activity.