Composition of the oils from Mentha pulegium grown in different areas of the East of Algeria

Abstract

Mentha pulegium L. (Lamiaceae) is the most common of the Mentha species growing in Algeria [1]. It is a perennial, herbaceous, aromatic plant species occurring in the whole Mediterranean basin, Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, and Northern parts of Iran. It can be found on humid terrains, near roads, and in more abundance in mountain pastures [2]. It is used in folk medicine as an infusion preventing different gastric disorders and inflammations of the respiratory tract [3]. Several studies on Mentha pulegium essential oil composition have been published already [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15].Three chemotypes have been established, pulegone type, piperitenone/piperitone type, and isomenthone/neoisomenthol type [10]. We present in this study the chemical composition of essential oils of species from twelve stations of different areas of the East of Algeria. All these results were compared with literature data and showed the presence of a new chemotype (reduced levels of pulegone and important nonoxygenated terpenic fractions).The yields of pulegone for other species are similar with those described in the literature (43.3-87.36%). The proportions of the other metabolites (menthone, isomenthone, piperitone, piperitenone) were also discussed.The oil prepared from the aerial parts of M. pulegium gives the yield obtained from the different samples analyzed, which are between 1, 16 to 2, and 19%. Forty-one constituents were identified in the oils (table 1). All the samples are harvested at the flowering stages. Mountain pastures gave better yields (Tassala, Bir Guecha, and Bouhatem).According to the composition of the oils, it will be seen under table 1 that the species were mostly related to the pulegone type (43, 3 to 87, 3% yield of pulegone). For these species the other main components were piperitenone (maximum yield 26/73%, Oued Zrafa), isomenthone (maximum yield 22.6%, Tassala 3), menthone (maximum yield 6.7%, Bouhatem 2), and in lesser amounts piperitone (2.13%, Tassala 3). For all the species these C-3 oxygenated p-menthane compounds constituted the bulk of the oils, while the level of nonoxygenated terpenic fractions was relatively low (<5%). The levels of menthone and isomenthone and piperitenone are slightly smaller than those reported in the literature with the difference in their relative ratio. The high level of piperitenone (14.4-26.7%) is most of the time associated with the high level of menthone (3.9-6.46%) and smaller amount of isomenthone (0.9-2.2%) (OZ, B1, B2, AR). Conversely, a high level of isomenthone (10.3-22.6%) is often associated with a moderate quantity of piperitenone (8-8.2%) and reduced yield of menthone (0.6-1%) (T1, T3).Two locations (M3: Ghdir d'achouat and J3: Jijel aeroport) exhibited more reduced yield of pulegone and high levels of nonoxygenated terpenic fractions (α-pinene, β-pinene, camphene, sabinene, α-terpinene, β-phellandrene, myrcene) and relatively high level of 1,8 cineol.From the results of the literature data, it appears that Algerian oils ...

Antibacterial Activity of Mentha Pulegium Essential Oil Against Avian Isolated Esbl Producing Bacteria and Its Synergistic Potential With Antibiotics

“…Previously in Algeria, the compounds of Mentha pulegium essential oil have been identified by Beghidja et al, who showed a difference on its constituents depending on the region of cultivation; actually, it appears that Algerian oils can be classified following two chemotypes: the first is the pulegone type with 52-87% yield of pulegone and some variations of the other constituents and the second chemotype which is poorer in pulegone and relatively rich in the non-oxygenated terpenic fraction [19].…”

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oils of Three Algerian Lamiaceae Species

“…According to literature, three chemotypes have been established, pulegone type, piperitenone/piperitone type, and isomenthone / neoisomenthol type [55]. Beghidja et al [56] studied the composition of several samples of pennyroyal from eastern Algeria, and claimed that these oils can be classified into two chemotypes: one of pulegone (pulegone with a percentage between 52 and 87%), and a new chemotype poor in pulegone and rich of nonoxygenated terpenic fractions ( -pinene, -thujene, -pinene, camphene, sabinene, -phellandrene) and relatively high level of 1,8-cineol.…”

Phytochemical study and insecticidal activity of Mentha pulegium L. oils from Morocco against Sitophilus Oryzae

“…In Taouirt region (North-East) 69.8% 35 ; in Rabat region (Ain Aouda), it is about 73.33% 11 and in Southern Morocco, it reached 85.4% 17 . Similarly, pennyroyal oils from different Algerian sites are characterized by the predominance of pulegone with different proportions 43.3 to 87.3% 36 . Similar results were obtained from Uruguay 7 and Tunisia 12 , the main compounds are respectively pulegone (73.4% and 61.11%) and isomenthone (12.9% and 17.02%).…”