Metabolite Profile, Antioxidant Capacity, and Inhibition of Digestive Enzymes in Infusions of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Grown under Drought Stress

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 62; no. 49; pp. 12027 - 12033
• Main Authors: Figueroa-Pérez, Marely G, Rocha-Guzmán, Nuria Elizabeth, Pérez-Ramírez, Iza F, Mercado-Silva, Edmundo, Reynoso-Camacho, Rosalía
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 10.12.2014; American Chemical Society, Books and Journals Division
• Subjects: alpha-amylase; alpha-Amylases - analysis; alpha-Amylases - antagonists & inhibitors; amino acids; Animals; antioxidant activity; antioxidants; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - metabolism; coumaric acids; Digestion; drought; Droughts; Enzyme Inhibitors - chemistry; Enzyme Inhibitors - metabolism; irrigation; Lipase - analysis; Lipase - antagonists & inhibitors; luteolin; Mentha piperita - chemistry; Mentha piperita - growth & development; Mentha piperita - metabolism; Mentha piperita nothosubsp. piperita; metabolites; naringenin; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - metabolism; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Leaves - metabolism; planting; quercetin; soil water; Swine; triacylglycerol lipase; unsaturated fatty acids; water stress; phenolic compounds; drought stress; peppermint infusion; inhibition of enzyme activity; antioxidant capacity
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf503628c

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) infusions represent an important source of antioxidants, which can be enhanced by inducing abiotic stress in plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of drought stress on peppermint cultivation as well as the metabolite profile, antioxidant capacity, and inhibition of digestive enzymes of resulting infusions. At 45 days after planting, irrigation was suppressed until 85 (control), 65, 35, 24, and 12% soil moisture (SM) was reached. The results showed that 35, 24, and 12% SM decreased fresh (20%) and dry (5%) weight. The 35 and 24% SM treatments significantly increased total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as antioxidant capacity. Coumaric acid, quercetin, luteolin, and naringenin were detected only in some drought treatments; however, in these infusions, fewer amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids were identified. The 24 and 12% SM treatments slightly improved inhibition of pancreatic lipase and α-amylase activity. Therefore, induction of moderate water stress in peppermint is recommended to enhance its biological properties.