GC-MS to Measure the Effect of Sustainable Fertilizer on Essential Oil Generation in Spearmint

A recent study published in Heliyon by Shahrekord University (Shahrekord, Iran) aimed to determine the effect of Chlorella vulgaris extract on the chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oil (EO) of Mentha spicata, commonly known as spearmint. The EOs of M. spicata were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (1).

Spearmint is cultivated worldwide for its medicinal benefits, aromatic qualities, and significant economic value. (2). Essential oil from the plant has been widely used as a flavoring agent, as well as for antimicrobial activity, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic purposes (3–6). In recent years, the cultivation of medicinal plants has increased significantly to meet the growing demand for their medicinal or aromatic properties in various industries, including nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. To achieve optimal crop yield and economic viability in plant production, applying chemical fertilizers has been adopted as a widespread approach (7–10). Chlorella vulgaris, a group of green algae (chlorophyceae) that exhibit fast growth and can grow in various habitats, such as seawater, freshwater, and soil, is a source of essential nutrients, proteins, minerals, pigments, lipids, vitamins, and antioxidants. Previous studies have shown positive responses to C. vulgaris’ application to plants, including improved quality and plant growth, while at the same time minimizing the potential ecological harm associated with chemical fertilizers (11–14).

Researchers performed GC-MS analysis using a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass ion trap detector and identified 46 components within the M. spicata analyzed, the main constituents being carvone (65.4–77.5 %), limonene (6.9–10.11 %), caryophyllene (4.77–10.92 %), and β-elemene (0.98–1.56 %). These results indicate that the foliar application of C. vulgaris extract compared to the control positively impacted carvone and limonene(significant contributors to the high antioxidant activity of M. spicata EO) but reduced the content of β-elemene and caryophyllene (1).

The results of the analysis, according to the authors, holds great potential to be an environmentally friendly bio-based fertilizer in sustainable agriculture to improve quality and medicinal plant growth without the ecological risks associated with chemically-based fertilizers. The extract can be used as a source of biologically active compounds and nutraceuticals and is exploited for significant commercial applications. The authors state that future studies should focus on the possibility of applying C. vulgaris extract to enhance the production of other secondary metabolites in medicinal plants, believing that this sustainable approach could provide innovative solutions to help agricultural challenges address agricultural challenges, such as improving crop yield and resilience while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers (1).

Spearmint plant closeup outdoors. © David Jaida - stock.adobe.com

References

1. Jamshidi-Kia, F.; Saeidi, K.; Lorigooini, Z.; Samani, B. H. Efficacy of Foliar Application of Chlorella vulgaris Extract on Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Essential Oil of Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.). Heliyon 2024, 10 (23), e40531. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40531

2. Ovais, M.; Ayaz, M.; Khalil, A. T.; Shah, S. A.; Jan, M. S.; Raza, A.; Shahid, M.; Shinwari, Z. K. HPLC-DAD Finger Printing, Antioxidant, Cholinesterase, and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Potentials of a Novel Plant Olax nana. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018, 18 (1):1. DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-2057-9

3. Mahendran, G.; Verma, S. K,.; Rahman, L. U. The traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.): A Review. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2021, 278, 114266. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114266

4. El Menyiy, N.; Mrabti, H. N.; El Omari, N.; Bakili, A. E.; Bakrim, S. et al. Medicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Mentha spicata. Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine2022. 7990508.DOI: 10.1155/2022/7990508

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11. Park, Y. J.; Park, J. E.; Truong, T. Q.; Koo, S. Y.; Choi, J. H.; Kim, S. M. Effect of Chlorella vulgaris on the Growth and Phytochemical Contents of “Red Russian” Kale (Brassica napus var. Pabularia). Agronomy 2022, 12 (9), 2138. DOI: 10.3390/agronomy12092138

12. Alvarenga, P.; Martins, M.; Ribeiro, H.; Mota, M.; Guerra, I.; Cardoso, H.; Silva, J. L. Evaluation of the Fertilizer Potential of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus Grown in Agricultural Drainage Water from Maize Fields. Sci. Total Environ. 2023, 861, 160670. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160670

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