Seasonal Variation of Antioxidant Capacity, Phenols, Minerals and Essential Oil Components of Sage, Spearmint and Sideritis Plants Grown at Different Altitudes

Medicinal and aromatic plants are well appreciated for their antioxidant biocidal activities, while great variation on these activities can be related to the species, environmental conditions harvesting period. In present study, seasonal of activity, mineral content, yield chemical composition essential oils (EOs) sage (Salvia officinalis L.), sideritis (Sideritis perfoliata L. subsp. perfoliata) spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) were tested under two different conditions, each with a altitude (namely mountainous plain). Season affected total phenolic content capacity increased values during winter lower summer summer, accumulated more Fe had higher EO yield, P Na in winter. Altitude lesser effect plants; however, minerals (N, K, Ca) accumulation was found plain areas. Sage highest capacity, Zn yield. Sideritis revealed high N, Mg levels. Furthermore, season an impact main EOs components all species. FRAP ABTS variably correlated phenols minerals, depending altitude. few cases, activity inversely linked some (e.g., ?-thujone sage). Finally, examined MAPs altered by These findings utilized implement sage, farming specific ecosystems, determining areas plants, order produce high-value products.