IEffect of drying on chemical composition and aroma profile of organic lemon beebalm (Monarda citriodora), lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus) and catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Abstract

The most growing plants of Lamiaceae family in Lithuania are Mellisa L., Mentha L., Thymus L., Ocimum L., Leonurus L., Origanum L., Rosmarinus L., Salvia L (Šlėgutė, 2016). Plants of this family are sources of essential oils and extracts with high antioxidant activity (Li et al., 2008, Asadi et al., 2010, Kamatou et al., 2010) due to its properties are widely used in medicine, confectionery, perfumery, cosmetics and food production. Bioactive compounds present in these plants have antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, and antitumor effects (De Sauza et al., 2004; Stević et al., 2014). According to Katoch et al. (2017) Lemon monarda (Monarda citriodora) essential oil consists of 30 components. Collins et al. (2011) determined that the main components of the essential oil of the flowers and leaves of lemon monarda (Monarda citriodora) were thymol, p-cymene, carvacrol. According to Imelouane et al. (2009) the main compounds of essential oil of lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus) consists of camphor (39.39%), camphene (17.57%), α-pinene (9.55%), 1.8-cineole (5.57%), borneol (5.03%), β-pinene (4.32%). Jurevičiūtė et al. (2018) determined that the main compound of lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus) essential oil was geraniol. Adiguzel et al. (2008) investigated that the major components of the essential oil of catnip (Nepeta cataria) were 4a-α, 7-α, 7a β-nepetalactone (70.4%), thymol (2.3%), piperitenone (1.7%), pinocarvon (1.2%). Gilani et al. (2009) determined that the main compounds of essential oil of catnip (Nepeta cataria) was eucalyptol (21.00%), α-humulene (14.44%), α-pinene (10.43%) and geranyl acetate (8.21%). The quantity of biologically active substances in the plants depends on the soil location where they grow, climatic conditions, fertilization and treatments after harvest. One of the oldest ways to preserve herbs and to prevent microbiological contamination as well as enzymatic changes [...]