Bioactive potential of selected herbal Lamiaceae plants depending on cultivation conditions

This study aimed to compare the antioxidant potential and content of bioactive compounds (vitamin C, chlorophyll ‘a’ and ‘b’, carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins) in selected herbal plants: Melissa officinalis L., Mentha x piperita L., and Origanum vulgare L. grown in field, greenhouse, and indoor vertical cultivation. It was found that the health-promoting value of the tested herbs grown in greenhouse and vertical cultivation is optimal and does not differ significantly from plants grown traditionally. The habit of plants grown in greenhouses and vertical cultivation was smaller than that of plants grown in the field due to different physical cultivation conditions. This may have been due to the lack of wind airflow and lower light intensity, which are crucial factors in developing a stronger habit. In addition, other environmental and cultivation-related factors may also have influenced plant morphology, including restricted root volume, differences in temperature fluctuations between day and night, higher air humidity, altered spectral composition of artificial lighting, limited mechanical stimulation, and differences in nutrient and water availability. Elevated planting density and reduced exposure to natural stress conditions may also contribute to more compact growth and weaker stem development. Vertical cultivation can serve as an alternative to field and greenhouse cultivation, particularly in city areas with limited space. The small size of plants grown vertically can also be utilized for growing sprouts and microgreens at home.