Lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidants, lipid peroxidation inhibition and radical scavenging activity of two Lamiaceae food plants

Abstract

Medicinal and aromatic plants are highly prized all over the world. According to local cuisine and pharmacopoeias, they used to be important as dietary supplements, providing bioactive compounds. Herein, we describe lipophilic (fatty acids, tocopherols and carotenoids) and hydrophilic (ascorbic acid, sugars and phenolic compounds) antioxidants, lipid peroxidation inhibition and free radical scavenging activity in aerial parts of two Lamiaceae species (Mentha pulegium and Thymus pulegioides). M. pulegium gave the highest antioxidant properties (EC 50 <0.56 mg/mL), which is in agreement with its highest content in tocopherols, mainly a-tocopherol (69.54 mg/100 g), ascorbic acid (7.90 mg/100 g), reducing sugars (7.99 g/100 g) and phenolics. The presence of these lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidants could explain its use as antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and as food preservative and special sauce. M. pulegium revealed the highest content of fat, a-linolenic (v-3) and linoleic (v-6) fatty acids, while T. pulegioides revealed the highest content of carbohydrates (89.35 g/100 g). This could explain its use to improve the nutrition value of rye flour broth or potato based soups.

Wild edible plants: Nutritional and toxicological characteristics, retrieval strategies and importance for today's society

“…In turn, the immature fruits of M. sylvestris (Barros et al, 2010a) and plants used as a condiment or spice (mainly flowering parts) reveal the lowest moisture content (< 62 g/100 g). This is the case of Thymus pulegioides, T. mastichina, Mentha pulegium, Origanum vulgare, Pterospartum tridentatum and Helichrysum stoechas (Barros et al, 2011aFernandes et al, 2010;Pinela et al, 2011). The protein levels of the selected WEPs range from 0.6 to 6.2 g/ 100 g ( Table 2).…”

“…The immature fruits of M. sylvestris and the flowering aerial parts of T. pulegioides and O. vulgare were those to present the highest carbohydrates content (Barros et al, 2011a(Barros et al, , 2010aFernandes et al, 2010), which provide 31-34% of the RDA (130 g/day) for adults. Other seven pants, including the flowering aerial parts of T. mastichina (36.6 g/ 100 g) (Barros et al, 2011a) and M. pulegium (34.4 g/100 g) (Fernandes et al, 2010) were also reported as a rich source of carbohydrates.…”

“…Other seven pants, including the flowering aerial parts of T. mastichina (36.6 g/ 100 g) (Barros et al, 2011a) and M. pulegium (34.4 g/100 g) (Fernandes et al, 2010) were also reported as a rich source of carbohydrates. These macronutrients are important short-term energy-storage compounds.…”

“…In addition to high levels of fat and carbohydrates, the immature fruits of M. sylvestris also present the higher ash content (7.0 g/100 g) (Barros et al, 2010b). With high levels also arise the leaves and stems of G. hederacea (Barros et al, 2011a), the leaves of F. vulgare and M. sylvestris (Barros et al, 2010a(Barros et al, , 2010b, the basal leaves of B. maritima and P. rhoeas (García Herrera, 2014), the inflorescences F. vulgare (Barros et al, 2010b) and the flowering aerial parts of T. pulegioides (Fernandes et al, 2010).…”

“…The flowering parts of Malva sylvestris (Barros et al, 2010a), M. pulegium (Fernandes et al, 2010), R. ulmifolius (Barros et al, 2010e), F. vulgare (Barros et al, 2010b) and P. tridentatum (Pinela et al, 2011) were reported as having a total sugars content ranging from 2066 mg/100 (in P. tridentatum) to 5508 mg/100 g (in M. sylvestris). Some of these plant parts have been used as condiment and/or in herbal beverages to treat a number of health conditions (Table 1).…”