# Phenolic and Volatile Composition of a Dry Spearmint (_Mentha spicata_ L.) Extract
## Results and Discussion
### Characterisation of Volatile Composition
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**ID** & **Identification** & **Flavour Note [32]** & **LRI-Wax** & **LRI-BPS* & **Identification Method** & **Ref.** & **Concentration** \\  & & & & & & & & \\ \hline
36 & \(\beta\)-damassnoremo & Woods, swept, frailty, earthty & **1828** & **1381** & MS + LRI & [38] & 0.66 + 0.17 \\
37 & \(\beta\)-disappropeny1-2-methylcyclopent-1-encarboxaldehyde & (not reported) & **1384** & MS & MS & 0.43 + 0.08 \\
38 & Calanemene & Herbal & **1839** & **1525** & MS + LRI & [30] & 0.34 + 0.11 \\
39 & Perpentine & Herbal, mirror & **1849** & **1268** & MS + LRI & [35] & 0.69 + 0.21 \\
40 & \(\beta\)-perman-8-ol & Sweet, fruitty, cherry, country & **1857** & **1175** & MS + LRI & [3] & 1.96 + 0.74 \\
41 & Exo-2-hydroxy glucose & Eucalyptus, basilium & **1864** & MS & MS & 0.36 + 0.01 \\
42 & \(\beta\)-dis dimethyl-phenyl-1,4-diol & (not reported) & **1868** & MS & 0.44 + 0.02 \\
43 & Longriphene & Hinoki, cypress & **1884** & **1350** & MS + LRI & [42] & 0.74 + 0.01 \\
44 & Isoppenference & Mity & **1932** & **1340** & MS + LRI & NIST & 2.37 + 0.94 \\
45 & Damasceno (isomer) & & **1948** & MS & 0.56 + 0.12 \\
46 & Martin lactone & Sweet, creamy, coumaria and coconut & **1967** & MS & 0.46 + 0.03 \\
47 & \(\beta\)-dishydro-\(\beta\)-ionne & Woody & **1979** & **1406** & MS & 1.17 + 0.69 \\
48 & Seudanone & Nutty & **1990** & **1005** & MS + LRI & NIST & 0.50 + 0.19 \\
49 & Hydroxy-durance & (not reported) & **1998** & **1322** & MS & 0.31 + 0.23 \\
50 & Cinerton & Mythus & **2011** & **1403** & MS & 0.64 + 0.43 \\
51 & Carnene & Mity, licorice & **2054** & **1239** & MS + LRI & [30] & 0.18 + 0.07 \\
52 & \(\beta\)-acetoxy-\(\beta\)-menth-3-one & Mity & 2114 & MS & 0.16 + 0.05 \\
53 & \(\beta\)-degipropyl naphene & (not reported) & **2144** & MS & 0.33 + 0.08 \\
54 & (ungballe derivative) & & **2158** & MS & 0.15 + 0.05 \\
55 & Eugend & Spicy & **2164** & **1354** & MS + LRI & [35] & 0.75 + 0.44 \\
56 & \(\epsilon\)-ethylphenol & Prenbic & **2171** & **1175** & MS + LRI & [35] & 0.17 + 0.01 \\
57 & Thymol & Herbal & **2179** & **1299** & MS + LRI & [35] & 0.62 + 0.29 \\
58 & \(\beta\)-acetyl-4-methyl/phenol & Sweet heavy floral herbal & **2190** & **1180** & & [43] & 0.95 + 0.41 \\
59 & Carvacard & Spicy & **2204** & **1298** & MS + LRI & [35] & 0.12 + 0.03 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
* \({}^{\text{a}}\) No value means not found in literature. Mean (\(n\) = 2 \(\pm\) SD.  
\end{table} 
Table 3: _Cont._Quantitatively, the volatile fraction of the spearmint extract examined had 34.64 \(\pm\) 10.57 \(\upmu\)g/100 mg of volatile compounds. In general, since this extract is water-extracted, the volatile fraction analysis yields percentages of components much lower than those reported in the literature for spearmint leaf material. Ketones were the most representative compounds in this fraction, constituting about 32% of the total volatile amount, followed by terpenoids at 20%. Aldehydes, esters, and furans were also detected at 18%-19% of the total volatile fraction. The highest quantitative individual compounds present in the volatile fraction of the tested spearmint were as follows: _p_-cymene (3.39 \(\pm\) 0.98 \(\upmu\)g/100 mg), isopiperitone and piperitone (2.37 \(\pm\) 0.94 and 0.69 \(\pm\) 0.21 \(\upmu\)g/100 mg, respectively), dihydroudhan II (two signals: 2.27 \(\pm\) 0.66 and 0.69 \(\pm\) 0.09 \(\upmu\)g/100 mg), menthone (2.18 \(\pm\) 0.72 \(\upmu\)g/100 mg), _p_-cymen-8-ol (1.96 \(\pm\) 0.74 \(\upmu\)g/100 mg), and _\(\beta\)_-linalool (1.52 \(\pm\) 0.43 \(\upmu\)g/100 mg). These molecules confer characteristic aromatic notes to the product, such as minty, phenolic, and floral flavours [32]. Traditional mint presents a really distinctive flavour, mostly due to the presence of a particular alcoholic cyclic terpene: menthol. This molecule, besides being well-known as a primary aromatic compound, is used in medicine for gastro-intestinal disorders [44]. In our sample, menthol was not detected.