Effect of chemical elicitors on peppermint (Mentha piperita) plants and their impact on the metabolite profile and antioxidant capacity of resulting infusions

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 156; pp. 273 - 278
• Main Authors: Perez, Marely GFigueroa, Rocha-Guzman, Nuria Elizabeth, Mercado-Silva, Edmundo, Loarca-Pina, Guadalupe, Reynoso-Camacho, Rosalia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analgesics; Antioxidants - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Elicitor; Food toxicology; General pharmacology; Hydrogen peroxide; Medical sciences; Mentha piperita; Mentha piperita - chemistry; Neuropharmacology; Peppermint; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phenols - chemistry; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Salicylic acid; Toxicology; Salicylic acid; Hydrogen peroxide; Elicitor; Peppermint; Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase; Enzyme; Metabolite; Chemical compound; Enzyme inhibitor; Antioxidant; Medicinal plant; Non steroidal antiinflammatory agent; Infusion; Mentha piperita; Analgesic; Labiatae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Antipyretic; Spermatophyta; Oxidoreductases; Salicylates; Antirheumatic agent
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.01.101

•Antioxidants in peppermint infusions can be improved using elicitors in plant.•Salicylic acid treatment improved plant growth parameters in peppermint.•Salicylic acid application in peppermint improved metabolite profile in infusions.•Sinapic acid, rutin, and naringin were detected only in salicylic acid treatments.•Hydrogen peroxide showed no significant effects on the parameters evaluated. Infusions are widely consumed all over the world and are a source of dietary antioxidants, which can be improved in plants using elicitors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) (0.5, 1 and 2mM) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (0.05, 0.1 and 0.5mM) on peppermint (Mentha piperita) plants and its effect on the metabolite profile and antioxidant capacity of resulting infusions. Whereas 2mM SA treatment improved plant growth parameters and metabolite profile (carbohydrates and amino acids), 0.5 and 1mM SA treatments increased phenolic compound concentration. Sinapic acid, rutin and naringin were detected only in SA treatments; antioxidant capacity was also improved. Regarding H2O2 treatments, no differences in plant growth parameters, metabolite profile or antioxidant capacity were found. Therefore, the application of SA to peppermint is recommended in order to improve bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of infusions.