Characterization of Odorants in Southern Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides

Abstract

Southern mountain mint, Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides (Leavenw.) Fernald, is a mountain mint species endemic to the southeastern United States. The odorants responsible for the plant’s odor have not been previously characterized. In this study, 28 odorants were identified in a high-vacuum distillate of P. pycnanthemoides employing gas chromatography-olfactometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Flavor dilution (FD) factors were determined by aroma extract dilution analysis. Ten odorants with FD factors ≥16 were quantitated by stable isotope dilution assays, odor activity values (OAVs) were calculated, and the stereochemistry of chiral odorants was determined. Odorants with OAV ≥1 included β-ionone (floral, violet; OAV 310), piperitenone (mint; OAV 100), piperitone (mint; OAV 87), linalool (floral, citrus; OAV 45), myrcene (terpeny; OAV 35), (R)-(+)-pulegone (mint, medicinal; OAV 18), (2S,5R)-(−)-menthone (mint, fresh; OAV 6.6), and 1,8-cineole (eucalyptus; OAV 4.0). An odor simulation model based on the quantitative analysis was a close match to the sensory attributes of an aqueous infusion of dried P. pycnanthemoides. The study’s results establish insights into the complex odor profile of P. pycnanthemoides and provide a foundation for future studies on the odor variability within P. pycnanthemoides and other species of the Pycnanthemum genus.

Characterization of Odorants in White Leaf Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum albescens

“…incanum (OAV 11) and P. pycnanthemoides (OAV 4.0) . Myrcene, which had the second highest concentration in P.…”

“…incanum and P. pycnanthemoides were dominated by the mint-fresh and mint-medicinal attributes and to a lesser extent the eucalyptus attribute. , Therefore, the present study demonstrates that the odor character of P. albescens may differ from that of P.…”

“…incanum, and southern mountain mint, P. pycnanthemoides. , The odorants with the highest odor activity values (OAVs) in P. incanum included β-ionone (OAV 300), linalool (OAV 120), and myrcene (OAV 79), whereas those in P.…”

“…incanum included β-ionone (OAV 300), linalool (OAV 120), and myrcene (OAV 79), whereas those in P. pycnanthemoides included β-ionone (OAV 310), piperitenone (OAV 100), and piperitone (OAV 87). , However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on the odorants responsible for the aroma of white leaf mountain mint, P. albescens.…”

“…A collection of odor-active compounds have been identified and quantitated in hoary mountain mint, P. incanum, and southern mountain mint, P. pycnanthemoides. 7,8 The odorants with the highest odor activity values (OAVs) in P. incanum included βionone (OAV 300), linalool (OAV 120), and myrcene (OAV 79), whereas those in P. pycnanthemoides included β-ionone (OAV 310), piperitenone (OAV 100), and piperitone (OAV 87). 7,8 However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on the odorants responsible for the aroma of white leaf mountain mint, P. albescens.…”