Physicochemical Characterization and Antioxidant Properties of Essential Oils of M. pulegium (L.), M. suaveolens (Ehrh.) and M. spicata (L.) from Moroccan Middle-Atlas

Abstract

The cosmetics and food fields are based on the use of synthetic substances to protect their products against oxidation. However, synthetic antioxidants were reported to have negative effects on human health. The interest to develop natural antioxidants from plants has been growing in recent decades. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant properties of three essential oils (EOs) of M. pulegium (L.), M. suaveolens (Ehrh.) and M. spicata (L.) from the Azrou and Ifrane regions. The organoleptic characteristics, yields and physical properties were determined for the selected EOs. Their chemical compositions were identified using GC-MS; then, their antioxidant activities were evaluated using the DPPH• free radical scavenging activity and were compared with the ascorbic acid standard. The determined physicochemical parameters of dry matter and EOs demonstrated their good quality. The analysis of the EOs showed the dominance of pulegone (68.86–70.92%) and piperitenone (24.81%), piperitenone oxide (74.69–60.3%), and carvone (71.56–54.79%) and limonene (10.5–9.69%) for M. pulegium, M. suaveolens and M. spicata, respectively, from Azrou and Ifrane. Additionally, the antiradical tests demonstrated the remarkable power of these EOs, especially M. pulegium EO (IC50 = 15.93 mg/mL), which recorded the best activity compared with ascorbic acid (IC50 = 8.849 mg/mL). The obtained results indicated that these EOs could be applied as natural antioxidants in the food industry.

Comparative Analysis of the Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Four Moroccan North Middle Atlas Medicinal Plants’ Essential Oils: Rosmarinus officinalis L., Mentha pulegium L., Salvia officinalis L., and Thymus zygis subsp. gracilis (Boiss.) R. Morales

“…The yield of EO for S. officinalis obtained in our study was higher than the one reported by Jack et al (2%) [27]. Regarding T. zygis, a greater yield has been obtained compared to that obtained by Zekri et al (2017) (0.3%) [28]. The difference observed in the EO yield between the literature results and our study could be explained by an adaptation of the plant to abiotic factors, such as the climate specific to the sample's origin regions, to geographical factors, such as altitude, and the nature of the soil that directly interferes with the biosynthesis towards the preferential formation of specific products [29].…”

Chemical composition, organoleptic, physicochemical, and antibacterial properties of three plants of the lamiaceae family on Escherichia Coli strains

“…These results are in line with previous studies, which also identified pulegone as the main component of M. pulegium essential oil ( [38-40]. In addition, the presence of limonene and menthone in significant proportions [41,42].…”

The Formulation and Evaluation of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel and Cymbopogon flexuosus Linn Essential Oils Emulgel for the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

“…The physicochemical analysis of the essential oils of M. alternifolia and C. flexuosus was performed according to the protocol described by Zekri et al (2023) [44]. The solubility properties of the essential oils were determined using varying concentration of Tween-80.…”

“…This was performed using the broth microdilution checkerboard method as described by Satyajit et al (2007) [44] with slight modification. A 96-well microtiter plate was used for this experiment.…”