THE GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THERPENE AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF MENTHA SPI-CATA GROWING IN THE MIDDLE URALS

The terpene and fatty acid composition in ethanol extracts of spearmint (lat. Mentha spicata) growing in the Middle Urals was studied by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the terpene fraction was studied depending on the part of the plant (leaves, stems, roots) and the storage method of the plant (freezing, drying). 30 components were found in the extracts, 24 were identified. It was found that the greatest amount of terpenes is contained in the extracts of spearmint leaves, the least in the root extracts, and the best way to preserve terpenes in the plant is drying. Limonene, 1,8-cineole, dihydrocarvone, β-bourbonene, β-caryophyllene, β-copaen, hydroxymethylfurfural were identified as the main components of the terpene fraction; (-)-carvone is found in the greatest amount. Changes in the composition and content of fatty acids in spearmint were investigated depending on the month of harvest (May-September). It was found that the main fatty acids found in spearmint are palmitoleic (16:1), palmitic (16:0), linoleic (18:2), linolenic (18:3), stearic (18:0), arachidic (20:0), behenic (22:0) acids with a predominant content of linolenic acid. It is shown that in the period May-September the relative content of unsaturated acids increases and exceeds the content of saturated acids by 4.2–4.7 times.