Mint Plants ( Mentha ) as a Promising Source of Biologically Active Substances to Combat Hidden Hunger

Taras Hutsol (), Olesia Priss (), Liudmyla Kiurcheva, Maryna Serdiuk, Katarzyna Panasiewicz, Monika Jakubus, Wieslaw Barabasz, Karolina Furyk-Grabowska and Mykola Kukharets
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Taras Hutsol: Department of Mechanics and Agroecosystems Engineering, Polissia National University, 10-008 Zhytomyr, Ukraine
Olesia Priss: Department of Food Technologies and Hotel and Restaurant Business, Dmytro Motornyi Tavria State Agrotechnological University, 72-312 Melitopol, Ukraine
Liudmyla Kiurcheva: Department of Food Technologies and Hotel and Restaurant Business, Dmytro Motornyi Tavria State Agrotechnological University, 72-312 Melitopol, Ukraine
Maryna Serdiuk: Department of Food Technologies and Hotel and Restaurant Business, Dmytro Motornyi Tavria State Agrotechnological University, 72-312 Melitopol, Ukraine
Katarzyna Panasiewicz: Department of Agronomy, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632 Poznań, Poland
Monika Jakubus: Department of Soil Science and Microbiology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Szydłowska 50, 60-656 Poznań, Poland
Wieslaw Barabasz: Faculty of Technical Sciences and Design Arts, National Academy of Applied Sciences in Przemyśl, Książąt Lubomirskich 6, 37-700 Przemyśl, Poland
Karolina Furyk-Grabowska: Department of Production Engineering, Logistics and Applied Computer Science, Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Balicka 116B, 30-149 Kraków, Poland
Mykola Kukharets: Department of Electrification, Production Automation and Engineering Ecology, Polissia National University, 10-008 Zhytomyr, Ukraine

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: Hidden hunger, also known as micronutrient deficiency, is a form of undernutrition, which is exacerbated when food security is fragile. However, the amount of phytonutrients in the diet can be increased by using underutilized species, such as fresh mint greens ( Mentha ). These plants have a high biological value due to the high content of biologically active substances. Plants of the genus Mentha , however, differ significantly in their chemical composition and, thus, nutritional value. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the content of phytonutrients in different Ukrainian species of mint: peppermint ( Mentha piperita ), horsemint ( Mentha longifolia L.), silver-leaved horsemint ( Mentha longifolia S. ), and spearmint ( Mentha spicata L.), and to determine their stability after drying and freezing. After studying the chemical composition of fresh, dried, and frozen plants of these species, it was established that Ukrainian mint species offer a robust set of phytonutrients and can be used as ingredients of the so-called “functional foods.” The biologically active substances in mint are concentrated during drying. Moreover, such raw materials are easily stored and used as an ingredient. However, the losses of ascorbic acid due to drying mint reach 70%; of carotenoids—approximately 10–15%; of chlorophylls—21–38%; and of phenols—19–29%. Peppermint and spearmint were observed to have higher stability of biologically active compounds. As for the freezing, the best stability of the chemical composition was demonstrated by field mint and spearmint samples. Therefore, a targeted selection of mint types and varieties prior to processing will allow preserving maximal preservation of a maximum amount of biologically active substances, increasing the content of phytonutrients in finished products, and preventing the development of hidden hunger.

Keywords: mint greenery; biologically active substances; total dry matter; sugars; titratable acidity; ascorbic acid; carotenoids; chlorophyll; polyphenols; hidden hunger (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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