Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of Mentha pulegium L. from Bodrum, Turkey

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of Mentha pulegium L.'s essential oils from Bodrum, Turkey and to compare it with the literature values. The essential oils in this study were prepared by two different methods, by Clevenger and Steam Distillation. The yields of the essential oils, obtained by Clevenger and steam distillation were 1.6 % and 1.1 %, respectively. The composition of the essential oils were analysed by GC and GC-MS using Carbowax-20M as polar and DB-5 as apolar columns. The headspace analysis of this plant was examined, too. The basic components of steam distillation method on apolar DB-5 column, were isomenthone (42.1 %), pulegone (28.9 %), piperitenone (11.8 %) and piperitone (11.6 %). Analysis of Clevenger type method on the same column gave pulegone (34.6 %), piperitenone (31.4 %), isomenthone (17.9 %) and piperitone (9.7 %) as main components. The major components of headspace analysis of Mentha pulegium L. on DB5 column were isomenthone (52.6 %), pulegone (29.5 %) and menthol (3.6 %).