Gamma irradiation as a practical alternative to preserve the chemical and bioactive wholesomeness of widely used aromatic plants

•Highly consumed aromatic plants were gamma-irradiated to improve their conservation.•The observed alterations were specific from each Lamiaceae or Verbenaceae species.•Nutritional, chemical and antioxidant profiles remain nearly unchanged after irradiation.•Gamma irradiation is a viable conservation technology for the assayed species.

Aromatic plants require effective conservation technologies to expand their use. Irradiation might ensure plant decontamination, while maintaining their chemical, organoleptic, nutritional and bioactive qualities. In this study, the effects of gamma irradiation (1 and 10 kGy) in chemical, nutritional and antioxidant properties of Aloysia citrodora, Melissa officinalis, Melittis melissophyllum and Mentha piperita were evaluated. Gamma irradiation (up to 10 kGy) caused some statistically significant changes. However, when analyzed under an integrated approach, unirradiated and irradiated samples were grouped indiscriminately, indicating that irradiation treatment did not cause sufficient changes to define a specific chemical profile. Interestingly, each species was differentially affected by irradiation treatment. Overall, it might be considered that gamma irradiation (up to 10 kGy) is a feasible conservation technology for the assayed Lamiaceae and Verbenaceae species. This is an interesting result because the 10 kGy dose guarantees disinfested and decontaminated samples.