Analysis of the Essential Oil of the So-called“Mentha mirennae”Bruno by GC and GC/MS

ABSTRACT The essential oil of “Mentha mirennae” Bruno was analyzed by a combination of GC, GC/MS and 13C-NMR. It was found to contain more than 50 components of which about 40 (96%) were identified. The major compounds were linalool (70%), linalyl acetate (9.8%) and limonene (1.5%). From a comparison with the main constituents found in different Mentha oils, we presume that “M. mirennae” must be the hybrid M. citrata Ehrl. However, according to botanical and chemical data the possibility that “M. mirennae” is, in fact, M. spicata L. cannot be excluded.