Investigation of Chemical Compositions and Biological Activities of Mentha suaveolens L. from Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Mentha is an aromatic plant used since antiquity for its pharmaceutical virtues. The climate of Saudi Arabia favors the growth of aromatic plants including Mentha suaveolens L. The aim of this study is to analyze the volatile oils of different parts of fresh and dried Mentha suaveolens L. grown in Saudi Arabia (Aljouf area) using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector (GC/FID) techniques, to recognize the effect of drying on chemical composition, then to evaluate the antioxidant and antifungal activities of different extracts. In total, 118 compounds were identified via GC/MS and GC/FID, in which carvone is the main volatile constituent (stems, leaves, whole plant 45–64%). This investigation deduces that Mentha belonged to the carvone chemotype. Then, the analysis of non-volatile constituents of fresh and dried Mentha was performed by HPLC. The main phenolic compound of fresh and dried Mentha for different parts was rosmarinic acid (ranging from 28,002.5 to 6558 µg/g). The ethanolic extract of fresh stem showed the highest antifungal activity (53% inhibition) compared with miconazole (60% inhibition) but the ethanoic extract of dry stem showed no activity. Additionally, all ethanolic extracts, whether for fresh or dry Mentha, have antioxidant activity more than 90% while the antioxidant activity of whole plant volatile oil is equal to 53.33%. This research shows that M. suaveolens L. could be applied to manufacture natural antioxidants, antifungal, and flavoring agents.

Optimization of a Green Microwave-Assisted Extraction Method to Obtain Multifunctional Extracts of Mentha sp.

“…Among the different Mentha species, M. suaveolens presented the highest concentration of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (12.1 mg•g −1 of dry sample) and p-coumaric acid (0.15 mg•g −1 of dry sample) and intermediate levels of rosmarinic acid (1.7 mg•g −1 of dry sample), similar to those present in the M. rotundifolia extract. These compounds have also been previously detected by Aldogman et al [50] in Mentha suaveolens L. leaves from Saudi Arabia at different levels. Low concentrations of luteolin and caffeic acid, characteristic of M. suaveolens ethanolic extracts [26], were also found in this aqueous extract (<0.014 mg•g −1 of dry sample).…”

Mentha suaveolens as Allelopathic Biomass for Weed Control: Phenolics, Organic Acids, and Volatile Organic Compounds Profiles

“…The Mentha genus is particularly rich in this compound, as well as in chlorogenic and caffeic acid, which were also present in our sample [13,19]. Several authors have also identified rosmarinic acid as the predominant phenolic compound in M. suaveolens extracts [21,59,60]. Rosmarinic acid has been shown to trigger a series of effects on cellular organization and ultrastructures that strongly inhibit the root growth and development of Arabidopsis thaliana [61], also leading to a high inhibitory effect on lettuce radicle elongation [62].…”

“…In this case, all the pots corresponding to 4 replicates per treatment for 10 sowing times (80 pots) were concurrently prepared and watered as described in the previous assay. At this time (0 DAI) and every 3 days (3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30 DAI), four pots were sown with 25, 25, and 15 seeds each of redroot pigweed, barnyard grass, and maize, respectively. Ten days after each sowing time, the emerged seedlings were counted and harvested to obtain the percentage of germination, shoot length, and total aerial biomass (g DW) for each species and the length and biomass of the maize roots (Figure 1).…”

“…However, it is one of the least tested mint species in the world [19]. A few studies have addressed the phenolic composition of its ethanolic or methanolic extracts [20][21][22]. Ćavar Zeljković et al [19] analyzed the total phenolic content of methanolic extracts from 13 different species of Mentha, finding the highest range from M. suaveolens.…”

Mentha: Nutritional and Health Attributes to Treat Various Ailments Including Cardiovascular Diseases

“…Detailed information of the essential oils and its composition is provided in Table 1 of some common Mentha species ( Table 1 ). The presence of essential oils indicate that Mentha exhibit high antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antimicrobial potential, which would help to control the risk of cardiovascular diseases by using Mentha species compounds in food products [ 48 , 49 ].…”