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Major phenolic Acids of local and exotic Mint Germplasm Grown in Islamabad

Riffat Tahira¹*, Muhammad Naeemullah¹, Fazal Akbar² and muhammad Shahid Masood¹

Abstract: Phenolic acids have gained considerable interest during the past few years, owing to their potential health benefits from antiallergenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. During this investigation, selected phenolic acid (caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, ferulic acid and eugenol) concentrations were determined in fifteen local and exotic mint genotypes grown in the Islamabad area, using reverse phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Statistically significant (p>0.01) differences in concentrations were observed for caffeic, rosmarinic and ferulic acid while eugenol concentrations showed non-significant variation. Rosmarinic and caffeic acid were the major phenolic acids detected in mint germplasm. Ferulic acid was also detected in considerable concentrations in local mint cultivars. The presented data suggest that mints have the potential to be used as dietary sources of caffeic, rosmarinic and ferulic acids.

¹Plant Genetic Resources Program, National Agricultural Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan

²Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

^*Corresponding author E-mail tahirariffat30@yahoo.com