A Multivariate Statistical Approach to Comparison of Essential Oil Composition from Three Mentha Species

The chemical composition of essential oils obtained from aerial parts in spearmint, apple mint and chocolate mint, was investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses. (-)-Carvone (33.0%) was quantitatively major compound in spearmint, followed by R-(+)-limonene (11.7%) and β-phellandrene (9.7%); (-)-carvone (37.4%) and germacrene D (11.9%) in apple mint; and (-)-menthol (34.3%), p-menthone (18.4%) and menthofuran (9.8%) in chocolate mint. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principle components analysis showed the clear difference in chemical composition of the three mint oils.