Tunisian Native Mentha pulegium L. Extracts: Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activities

Abstract

Mint species (Lamiaceae family) have been used as traditional remedies for the treatment of several diseases. In this work, we aimed to characterize the biological activities of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of Mentha pulegium L. extracts collected from two different regions of Tunisia. The highest amounts of total phenols (74.45 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (28.87 ± 0.02 mg RE/g DW), and condensed tannins (4.35 ± 0.02 mg CE/g DW) were found in the Bizerte locality. Methanolic leaf extracts were subjected to HPLC-UV analysis in order to identify and quantify the phenolic composition. This technique allowed us to identify seven phenolic compounds: two phenolic acids and five flavonoid compounds, such as eriocitrin, hesperidin, narirutin, luteolin, and isorhoifolin, which were found in both extracts with significant differences between samples collected from the different regions (p < 0.05). Furthermore, our results showed that the methanolic extract from leaves collected from Bizerte had the highest antioxidant activities (DPPH IC50 value of 16.31 μg/mL and 570.08 μmol Fe2+/g, respectively). Both extracts showed high radical-scavenging activity as well as significant antimicrobial activity against eight tested bacteria. The highest antimicrobial activities were observed against Gram-positive bacteria with inhibition zone diameters and MIC values ranging between 19 and 32 mm and 40 and 160 µg/mL, respectively. Interestingly, at 10 μg/mL, the extract had a significant effect on cell proliferation of U87 human glioblastoma cells. These findings open perspectives for the use of Mentha pulegium L. extract in green pharmacy, alternative/complementary medicine, and natural preventive therapies for the development of effective antioxidant, antibacterial, and/or antitumoral drugs.

Mentha pulegium L. (Pennyroyal, Lamiaceae) Extracts Impose Abortion or Fetal-Mediated Toxicity in Pregnant Rats; Evidenced by the Modulation of Pregnancy Hormones, MiR-520, MiR-146a, TIMP-1 and MMP-9 Protein Expressions, Inflammatory State, Certain Related Signaling Pathways, and Metabolite Profiling via UPLC-ESI-TOF-MS

“…A major peak (39), eluded at t R = 21.51 min in the positive ionization mode, produced an intense molecular ion at m / z 611.2864 that exhibited a predicted chemical formula [C 28 H 35 O 15 ] + . The metabolite was annotated hesperetin 7- O -rutinoside (hesperidin) as reported previously in pennyroyal [ 21 ] and confirmed by the fragment ion at m / z [465.2265] + implying the loss of a deoxyhexose portion (146 amu) ( Figure S17 ).…”

Enhancement of Technological Properties and Therapeutic Potencies of Couscous through Enrichment with Issoufer: Traditional Plant Medicines

“…Jebali et al 51 tested the antibacterial activity of the methanolic extracts of the leaves of Mentha pulegium L. collected from Tunisian regions (Bizerte and Kef) against Bacillus subtilis. They found inhibition zone diameters of 31.00 ± 0.33 and 29.00 ± 0.30 mm, respectively.…”

ZnO-containing nanocomposites produced from Mentha pulegium L. of a new HEMA-based methacrylate copolymer: improvement the thermal and antimicrobial effect

“…essential oils, which are colorless, pale yellow or pale greenish yellow, liquid and have a characteristic odor, contain menthol, menthyl acetate, carvone and pulegon/piperitone [ 24 ]. The flavonoid compounds contained in Mentha pulegium L. species are hesperidin, apigenin, luteolin and rutin [ 25 ]. It has been reported in the literature that Mentha pulegium L. has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative [ 26 ], antigenotoxic [ 27 ] and antibacterial [ 28 , 29 ] effects.…”