2025, Vol. 13 Issue 1, Part B
Natural product variability in aeroponic vs. hydroponic cultivation of aromatic herbs: A comparative analysis
AUTHOR(S): Chinedu A Okafor
ABSTRACT:Background: Aeroponic and hydroponic systems are increasingly used for high-value medicinal and aromatic plants, yet comparative data on how these systems shape natural product profiles remain limited. Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of aeroponic versus hydroponic cultivation on growth, essential oil yield and composition, and phenolic-antioxidant traits in three model aromatic herbs Ocimum basilicum L. (basil), Mentha piperita L. (peppermint) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary). Methods: Seedlings were raised under controlled conditions and transferred to matched aeroponic or hydroponic units supplied with a modified Hoagland nutrient solution. Growth traits (biomass, root:shoot ratio, SPAD index) were recorded at a standardized harvest stage. Essential oils from leaves were obtained by steam distillation and analyzed by GC-MS. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS) were quantified spectrophotometrically. Data were analyzed using mixed-effects ANOVA with Tukey’s HSD and multivariate techniques (principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering). Results: Aeroponic cultivation significantly increased shoot dry biomass and essential oil yield in basil and peppermint (approximately 10-20% over hydroponics), while rosemary growth and oil output were largely unchanged. Aeroponic basil and peppermint showed modest shifts in the relative abundance of key volatiles (higher linalool and menthol), whereas rosemary chemotype remained stable. In contrast, hydroponic basil and rosemary exhibited higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents and greater radical scavenging capacity; peppermint showed smaller and mostly non-significant differences. Multivariate analysis resolved two major clusters: a hydroponic, phenolic-antioxidant-enriched profile and an aeroponic, essential-oil-enriched profile, with species-specific modulation. Conclusions: Aeroponic and hydroponic systems generate distinct but complementary natural product configurations in aromatic herbs. Aeroponics is particularly suitable where essential oil yield and selected volatile traits are prioritized, whereas hydroponics is advantageous for producing phenolic- and antioxidant-rich biomass. Strategic choice or integration of both systems offers a practical route to tailor plant chemistry to specific industrial and phytopharmaceutical applications.
Pages: 127-134 | 73 Views 30 Downloads
