Exploring the role of abiotic elicitors in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in peppermint (Mentha piperita L.)

Secondary metabolites are a large group of organic compounds generally biosynthesized by medicinal and aromatic plants, which have a wide range of uses in human life today. Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) is widely used as a traditional medicinal plant worldwide due to its high content of secondary metabolites, including menthol, limonene, pulegone, rosmarinic acid, cinnamic acid, eriocitrin, narirutin and hesperidin. It has different medicinal and culinary uses, such as food flavoring and treating rheumatoid arthritis pain, sinusitis headache and breathing problems. Given the chemical synthesis of plant secondary metabolites under laboratory conditions is considerably expensive and complicated, some alternative methods have been developed. Applying abiotic elicitors such as UV-radiation, abiotic stresses, and phytohormones during peppermint cultivation is an effective strategy to modify secondary metabolite content and components. Therefore, in this review, the most important secondary metabolites of peppermint and their uses are first described, and the abiotic elicitors used to influence the secondary metabolites profile of peppermint and their reaction mechanisms are then explained.