Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria improve the antioxidant status in Mentha piperita grown under drought stress leading to an enhancement of plant growth and total phenolic content

•PGPR inoculation ameliorates drought effects in peppermint plants.•Inoculation with PGPR significantly diminishes the reduction in growth produced by drought stress.•Drought stressed peppermint plants treated with PGPR had significant higher total phenolic compounds.•PGPR inoculation improve the antioxidant status of plants grown under drought stress conditions.