Essential oils are concentrated mixtures of lipophilic volatile compounds obtained by distillation, while hydrolates are aqueous solutions of volatile water-soluble components produced alongside essential oils during this process. Compared to essential oils, which have well-researched pharmacological effects and are widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food, and aromatherapy, hydrolates remain relatively under-researched.
To further explore this field, we studied the stability of peppermint (Mentha × piperita) and rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) hydrolates using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We prepared the essential oil and hydrolate of both medicinal plants, as well as the condensed aqueous phase from Clevenger distillation and two hydrolate extracts, one with ethyl acetate and one with hexane, and analyzed their chemical composition. We then tested the stability of the hydrolates over five months under different conditions: temperature (2–8 °C, room temperature, 40 °C), container material (glass, polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, aluminum), and light exposure (glass containers). Monthly, we analyzed their composition and pH and determined the total concentration of volatile compounds.
The predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes was observed in both plants. In peppermint essential oil, 34 compounds were detected and 10 in the hydrolate, with menthone being predominant in all samples. Geranium essential oil contained 66 compounds, and only 4 were found in the hydrolate, with citronellol being most abundant. The total concentration of volatile compounds was 0,94 mg/mL in the peppermint hydrolate and 0,08 mg/mL in the geranium hydrolate. The stability of volatile compounds in peppermint samples depended mainly on the material and also on temperature. The hghiest decrease in concentrations (> 95 %) and pH (from 6,33 to 4,02) occurred in polyethylene containers. The packaging material had a smaller impact on the pelargonium samples, but it was more difficult to compare the effect of temperature due to issues with sample evaporation. Nevertheless, storage at low temperatures proved to be the optimal choice for preserving pelargonium hydrolate, as the sample kept in the refrigerator throughout the testing period contained the highest concentrations of volatile compounds.
Optimal hydrolate stability is achieved by preventing chemical reactions of volatile compounds and microbial contamination; in the case of peppermint and pelargonium, this was ensured by storage in a glass container in a dark, cool place.
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