Spearmint plant denominated KI-MsEM0042
A new and distinct cultivar of Mentha spicata L. named KI-MsEM0042 and characterized by elevated levels of rosmarinic acid and vigorous growth.
1. A method of extracting rosmarinic acid, comprising extracting rosmarinic acid from plant tissue of a spearmint Mentha spicata L. plant denominated KI-MsEM0042 as produced by a spearmint line deposited with the ATCC and assigned accession number PTA-122651.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plant tissue is selected from the group consisting of leaf, rhizome, root, seed, or stem tissue.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: utilizing the rosmarinic acid as an antioxidant in a product selected from the group consisting of: human food, animal food, beverages and personal care products.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising drying the plant in a vegetable dehydrator.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the plant is field grown, and further comprising topping the plant to remove flowering heads at least once.
6. A method of providing an antioxidant, comprising extracting rosmarinic acid from plant tissue of a spearmint Mentha spicata L. plant denominated KI-MsEM0042 as produced by a spearmint line deposited with the ATCC and assigned accession number PTA-122651.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the antioxidant is included in product selected from the group consisting of: human food, animal food, beverages and personal care products.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising drying the plant tissue in a vegetable dehydrator.
9. A method of providing an antioxidant, comprising:
a. field growing plant tissue of a spearmint Mentha spicata L. plant denominated KI-MsEM0042 as produced by a spearmint line deposited with the ATCC and assigned accession number PTA-122651;
b. harvesting the plant tissue;
c. extracting rosmarinic acid from the plant tissue; and
d. utilizing the rosmarinic acid in a product.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of leaf, rhizome, root, seed, or stem tissue.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the antioxidant product is selected from the group consisting of: human food, animal food, beverages and personal care products.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plant tissue is field grown, and further comprising topping the plant to remove flowering heads at least once.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising drying the plant tissue in a vegetable dehydrator.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the spearmint plant is field grown, and further comprising:
a. topping the spearmint plant to remove flowering heads at least once; and
b. drying the spearmint plant tissue in a vegetable dehydrator.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plant tissue comprises greater than 80 mg/g rosmarinic acid on a dry weight basis after drying.