Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Essential Oil of Mentha suaveolens Ehrh.

Abstract

Hydrodistilled oils of the fresh aerial parts of Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. cultivated in Egypt were prepared from samples collected along the four seasons. The percentage yields of these essential oils were 0.50%, 0.52%, 0.60%, and 0.47% of the dry weight for winter, spring, summer, and autumn samples. GC/MS analyses of all samples revealed a qualitative and quantitative variability in the oil composition. The total number of compounds identified was 46 among which 15 were common in all samples. The oxygenated compounds constituted about 45%, 46%, 63%, and 44% of the total composition of the oils for winter, spring, summer, and autumn samples, respectively. Carvone was the major constituent in spring, summer, and autumn samples (about 31%, 56%, and 35%, respectively), while limonene (ca. 26%) was the major constituent of the winter sample followed by carvone (ca. 25%). The essential oil of the highest yield (full-fl owering summer sample), with the highest oxygenated constituents and carvone contents, was screened for certain biological activities. It exhibited analgesic and acute anti-inflammatory activities (75% and 82% relative to indomethacin). It also showed a potent in vivo antioxidant activity (96% relative to vitamin E). In addition, it exerted moderate cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, and in vitro antioxidant activities. Moreover, the oil had a potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans (MIC = 4 μg/ml), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MIC = 5.2 μg/ml), and Aspergillus niger (MIC = 6.8 μg/ml).

Application of Mentha suaveolens essential oil as an antimicrobial agent in fresh turkey sausages

“…However, it exhibits this activity at concentrations compatible with their bactericidal effect. On the other hand, it has been reported in the literature that M. suaveolens is a plant rich in essential oil and endowed with a potent antibacterial and antioxidant activity [21,22].…”

“…In recent years, some studies have indicated that the essential oils of M. suaveolens have an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria [21]. Moreover, it has been reported that these essential oils possess also the antioxidant properties [22]. Thereby, in this study, we proceeded to (i) extract the essential oils of M. suaveolens harvested from Meknes Region in Morocco and (ii) evaluate its antibacterial and antioxidant activities, in addition to its effect in the survival of E. coli and S. aureus in fresh sausages.…”

Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. Chemotypes in Eastern Iberian Peninsula: Essential Oil Variation and Relation with Ecological Factors

“…A high content of limonene was also found in flowers of M. suaveolens cultivated in Egypt. [11] For this reason, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) focused on this compound was performed separately for leaves and flowers in order to clarify its ecological role ( Figure 3) As described in Figure 3, the limonene reach the major concentrations from floral extracts at morning (8.4% in CAL; 7.7% in TAV), reaching minimum values at evening (2.59% in CAL; 3.0% in TAV). On the contrary, minor values and no significant changes were observed in extracts from leaves.…”

“…[3][13] [14] Nevertheless, the presence of other compounds in leaves and inflorescences, such as limonene and carvone, has been reported as characteristics of the chemotypes in Northern Africa. [11] [12] M. suaveolens subsp. suaveolens, the taxon with major dispersion area (S and C. Europe, SW Asia), shows a high presence of oxygenated compounds in C3 as piperitone, piperitenone and their epoxides as well as menthol and pulegone.…”

Chemical and biological study of Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. cultivated in Egypt

“…Also, the essential oil of M. suaveolens was found to have a candidacidal activity (Donatella et al, 2011). Moreover, in a previous publication, the authors proved that the essential oil of the aerial parts of M. suaveolens has analgesic, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant and antifungal activities (El-Kashoury et al, 2012).…”