Abstract
Chemical composition, antioxidant and anti-Vibrio spp. activities of the essential oil isolated from the aerial parts of Mentha spicata L. (spearmint) are investigated in the present study. The effect of the essential oil on Vibrio spp. biofilm inhibition and eradication was tested using the XTT assay. A total of 63 chemical constituents were identified in spearmint oil using GC/MS, constituting 99.9% of the total identified compounds. The main components were carvone (40.8% ± 1.23%) and limonene (20.8% ± 1.12%). The antimicrobial activity against 30 Vibrio spp. strains (16 species) was evaluated by disc diffusion and microdilution assays. All microorganisms were strongly affected, indicating an appreciable antimicrobial potential of the oil. Moreover, the investigated oil exhibited high antioxidant potency, as assessed by four different tests in comparison with BHT. The ability of the oil, belonging to the carvone chemotype, to inhibit or reduce Vibrio spp. biofilm warrants further investigation to explore the use of natural products in antibiofilm adhesion and reinforce the possibility of its use in the pharmaceutical or food industry as a natural antibiotic and seafood preservative against Vibrio contamination.
Highlights
Tunisia has a remarkable floral and cultural diversity, with a number of endemic plants due to the variable climate and the high number of ecological zones [1]
Aromatic/medicinal plants and spices have been used for thousands of years as medicines due their bioactive compounds [2]; many aromatic plants growing wild or cultivated in Tunisia are still to be investigated for their chemical composition and biological activities and their potential use in perfumery, food preparation and conservation, and pharmaceutical preparations
The aims of this work were (1) to study the chemical composition of Tunisian M. spicata harvested from Soliman Tunisian locality (Nabeul), which is commonly used in Tunisian kitchens to dress fish and shellfish dishes; (2) to evaluate its possible antioxidant and antimicrobial effects against several pathogenic Vibrio spp. isolated from seawater and fish and associated with human infection due to consumption of raw or undercooked sea products; and (3) to evaluate its ability to prevent and eliminate
Summary
Tunisia has a remarkable floral and cultural diversity, with a number of endemic plants due to the variable climate and the high number of ecological zones [1]. A great number of plant species are used for traditional and medicinal purposes. Aromatic/medicinal plants and spices have been used for thousands of years as medicines due their bioactive compounds [2]; many aromatic plants growing wild or cultivated in Tunisia are still to be investigated for their chemical composition and biological activities and their potential use in perfumery, food preparation and conservation, and pharmaceutical preparations. The Lamiaceae family consists of more than 4000 species in 200 genera. Many genera within this family are medicinal plants useful in human disease therapy as well as in food, both raw and cooked. Many lamiaceous species contain essential oils that show biological activity against many bacterial and fungal pathogens
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