Nine types ofMentha belonging to the six species were studied for their growth,
yield, oil content and composition of the oils. The highest plant height (34.6 cm.), herbage
yield (1.0 Kg/m2) were obtained in M. citrata and oil content (1.3%) was obtained in M.
arvensis (Sivalika). The varieties M. arvensis (Sivalika), M. arvensis (CIMAP) and local ofM.
arvensis contain menthol and isomenthone (77.0% and 11.0%), menthol and menthone (72.2%
and 12.1%) and carvone and limonene (59.6% and 31.1%) respectively as major constituents.
M. piperita contain menthyl acetate (29.8%), menthol (22.6%), menthofuranone (16.4%) and
isomenthone (8.4%) as major constituents. Major constituents of M. citrata were linalool
(41.8%) and linalyl acetate (31.3%). Local varieties of M. spicata contain carvone (55.0%),
dihydrocarveol (17.9%), dihydrocarveol acetate (7.7%) and limonene (6.9%) and the exotic
type contain carvone (73.3%) and D-limonene (7.6%) asmajor constituents. M. cardiaca contain
as major constituents carvone (61.0%) and limonene (21.6%). M. aquatica contains a complex
mixture of ledol (13.5%), menthofuranone (9.4%), neryl acetate (7.6%), caryophyllene (6.8%),
caryophyllene oxide (5.8%) and mintfuranone (5.0%) as major constituents.