Effect of Some Postharvest Treatments on Pepperment Quality

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted in season (2006-2007) to study the best harvesting method , the best drying method, packages type and storage period in peppermint which give the lowest average of total microbial count (TMC) and best essential oil content with active ingredients of the oil. The results of this study indicated that the best harvesting method occurred with using gloves with clear plastic, harvesting boxes; while, the best drying system was the solar drying. The best package type through storage period was carton boxes; increasing storage period decreased the volatile oil percentage and the most of main components.

Effect of Different Postharvest Methods on Essential Oil Content and Composition of Three Mentha Genotypes

“…Carton boxes preserved the highest EO content in Mentha and had the least influence on the composition of EOs. In all packaging materials, the EO content decreased and its composition changed with increasing storage time [18]. This was also found by Pandey et al (2023), who further incorporated the extraction of EOs in a fresh state in their comparison [23].…”

“…Management practices also include postharvest procedures, which begin at the moment of harvest or collection and include drying, shredding, grinding, packaging, storage and EO extraction. Each of these steps may affect the content and composition of the EO [18]. The typical postharvest procedure for peppermint involves first drying the whole plant and then cutting, sieving and separating leaves and stems via wind sifting.…”

“…The highest EO content (1.1%) and the highest percentage of piperitone (71.7%), the main compound, were found after drying with the condensation drying oven, the second highest in the shade drying process (0.9%), and the lowest after laboratory oven drying (0.6%). After drying with the laboratory oven, the most EO compounds were found (24), the second most in the treatment with the condensation oven (20), and the lowest number after shade drying (18). However, pulegone (1.4%) was identified only in the EO from the Mentha dried in the laboratory oven, while in the EO produced in the shade drying experiment, most pharmacologically active compounds, like menthol, were present [22].…”

“…Investigations on package type and storage period of Mentha × piperita were carried out by Mehasen et al (2009). In addition to different harvesting and handling treatments as well as drying methods, three different packaging types (plastic cases, jute cases and carton boxes) were examined for total microbial count (TMC) and the preservation of the EO content and composition every four months over a period of one year.…”