CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF MENTHA SPECATA L. ESSENTIAL OIL FROM IRAN

The essential oil from spearmint {Mentha spicata L., Labiatae) was extracted by hydrodistillation, and analysed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty eight components were identified representing 90.14% of total oil composition. The major constituents were carvone (22.40%), linalool (11.25%) and limonene (10.80%). The essential oil showed good activity against larvae of Anophel stephensi and Artemia salina.