Mentha Arvensis Research Articles

Exploiting fall foliage by-products to optimize Tenebrio molitor nutraceutical value

Abstract Tenebrio molitor larvae (TML) are a novel smart food recently declared safe by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). These edible insects are a complete source of digestible proteins, and their farming requires limited space and resources. With the purpose to increase the sustainability of their farming, different nursery wastes produced during fall foliage were used as feed supplements. Punica granatum (PL), Castanea sativa (CSL) and Robinia pseudoacacia fallen leaves (AL), and the leaves of two plants used in traditional medicine, Laurus nobilis (LL) and Mentha arvensis leaves (MAL), which are rich in polyphenols, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins were added to the TML standard diet as sources of antioxidant compounds. The fortified diets were administered to TML for their entire life cycle, and mean weight and survival rate analysed every 15 days, without observing a negative impact. After 45 days, when pupation exceeded 50%, the experiment was interrupted. TML accumulated antioxidant compounds from leaves, important to prevent inflammation and oxidative stress. Accordingly, we observed an increment of the antioxidant and radical scavenging activities respect to the TML fed with the standard diet (STDSL). Differently from STDSL, total fat content remained constant during development, while the quality of fat ameliorated, with a beneficial reduction of SFAs and an improvement of nutritional indexes associated with cardiovascular disease prevention. In addition, we observed an important reduction in n6/n3 ratio and the accumulation of linolenic acid. Taken together, our results strongly support the use of nursery wastes to fortify TML and improve their nutraceutical value.

Diversity and Distribution of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Selected Medicinal Plants

Background: Tha Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) association previously known as VAM belongs to an ancient fungal group known as Glomeromycota. In this study five commonly used medicinal plants viz., Eclipta prostrata, Mentha arvensis, Elettaria cardamomum, Bacopa monneri and Mimosa pudica were investigated for AMF colonization in the form of arbuscules, vesicles and hyphae from their roots and their rhizospheric soil was isolated for AMF spores. Majorly two genera of AMF dominated the rhizospheric soil of the plants investigated which were Acaulospora and Glomus. Altogether 12 AMF spores were isolated from the rhizospheric environment of the plants and they belonged to six different genera of AMF. Methods: In this field-laboratory investigation during 2022-23, different localities of Banaras Hindu University was surveyed. 5 different plants were selected for investigation on the diversity and distribution of AMF colonisation found in their rhizospheric soil. Result: Our investigation on the diversity and distribution of AMF of few selected plants from BHU have allowed us to isolate and morphologically identify 12 different species of AMF from 6 different genera. The geographical distribution of the collected species was discussed. The present work will be a complementary contribution to the comprehensive study of the identification and utility of AMF in plant growth and sust.

Pain and Inflammation Management: Part-II Clinical Investigation of a Topical Ayurvedic Cream called HerboCare or HerboJointTM

Background: Joint pain and chronic inflammation pose significant health challenges, particularly among the elderly population. Current treatments often offer only temporary relief and are associated with potential side effects. Ayurvedic botanical herbs and oils, known for their phytochemical-rich, anti-inflammatory properties, hold promise in addressing these issues.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of HerboCare orHerboJoint™, a topical Ayurvedic cream, in alleviating muscle discomfort, inflammation, and joint pain, along with its impact on inflammatory cytokines, particularly TNF-α on human subjects. While HerboCare or HerboJoint had a very low content of Menthol, HerboJoint-Plus (not reported in this study) was formulated with a much higher content of USP grade Menthol.Methods: HerboCareor HerboJoint™ cream, formulated with essential oils from Cymbopogon citratus, Hedychium spicatum, Zanthoxylum alatum, and Menthol (Mentha arvensis), was evaluated in two sets of clinical trials over a 90-day period. Patients with joint pain were divided into different treatment groups, and their pain, swelling, stiffness, and inflammatory marker TNF-α were assessed.Results: In the first set of trials, HerboCare orHerboJoint™ significantly reduced joint pain (29%), joint swelling (31%), and joint stiffness (60%) in patients. In the second set, TNF-α levels were reduced by 38% in the HerboCare orHerboJoint™-only group, 63% in the HerboCare orHerboJoint™ and prescribed formulation group, and 71% in the group receiving only the prescribed formulation. These results underscored the cream's efficacy in mitigating inflammation.Conclusion: HerboCare orHerboJoint™, formulated with Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)-affirmed botanical ingredients, demonstrates clinical effectiveness in relieving joint pain and inflammation. This Ayurvedic approach offers a safe and cost-effective alternative for managing these debilitating conditions.Keywords: Muscular discomfort,Joint Pain, Essential Oils; Menthol; Inflammatory Cytokines; Clinical Study

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF $MENTHA~ARVENSIS$ L. HARVESTED AT HIGH ALTITUDE ARMENIAN FLORA

Currently it is relevant to reveal possible new sources of natural antibacterial components, the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance formation in bacteria, and the possible ways to overcome the problem of microbial resistance to antibiotics. So, our research aimed to study the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil (EO) isolated from the herb Mentha arvensis harvested at high altitude Armenian landscape. Menthol constitutes a significant part of the EO components of the M. arvensis plant, reaching approximately 70%. The investigated EO showed high antimicrobial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. In particular, the EO equally suppressed the growth of both wild-type and kanamycin-resistant strains of Escherichia coli and manifested the minimal inhibitory concentration against all tested microorganisms of 0.18 mg/mL. So, M. arvensis EO is relevant for application in the food and cosmetic industry as a natural aromatizer and preservative.

Study on morphology, distillation process, chemical compositions, and biological activities of Mentha arvensis L. var. javanica (Blume) Hook. f essential oil

BackgroundMentha arvensis L., also known as Mentha arvensis L. var. javanica (Blume) Hook. f, is a commonly used culinary plant in Vietnam, yet the scientific exploration of its biological activities remains relatively uncharted. This study seeks to address this gap by systematically examining the morphology of the plant. It then meticulously investigates optimal parameters for the distillation process, examining the chemical compositions, and evaluating the potential biological activities of the extracted essential oil from this particular plant. MethodsIn this study, the anatomy of the plant was first examined by alum-green iodine staining method, followed by the extraction of essential oils by steam distillation. The subsequent phase involved the determination of chemical compositions by Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS), free radical resistance by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) choice and antibacterial by paper plate method. Significant findingsThe GC–MS results revealed the predominant chemical components in the essential oil, with limonene constituting the highest proportion at 74.16 %. Other notable constituents included carvotanacetone (6.79 %), β-pinene (1.13 %), isocaryophillene (0.26 %), and menthol (0.17 %). In term of antimicrobial activity, the essential oil exhibited varying degrees of inhibition against different microorganisms. The strongest inhibitory effect was observed against Aspergillus niger (40.0 mm ± 0.3), followed by Listeria innocua (12.0 mm ± 0.1), Escherichia coli (11.0 mm ± 0.2), Enterococcus faecalis (11.0 mm ± 0.1), Bacillus cereus (11.0 ± 0.1), Staphylococcus aureus (9.0 mm ± 0.2), Bacillus subtilis (9.0 mm ± 0.3). The weakest resistance was observed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.0 mm ± 0.0). Additionally, the essential oil displayed a promising level of antioxidant activity, as indicated by its IC50 = 244.3 ± 0.32 µg/mL in the free radical scavenging assay. These findings hold significant promise for potential applications of the Mentha tree, particularly in limonene extraction, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Essential Oils of Mentha arvensis and Cinnamomum cassia Exhibit Distinct Antibacterial Activity at Different Temperatures In Vitro and on Chicken Skin.

The bacterial contamination of meat is a global concern, especially for the risk of Salmonella infection that can lead to health issues. Artificial antibacterial compounds used to preserve fresh meat can have negative health effects. We investigated the potential of natural essential oils (EOs), namely Mentha arvensis (mint) and Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) EOs, to prevent contamination of the food pathogen, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Typhimurium, in vitro and on chicken skin. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique was used to determine the compositions of mint EO (MEO) and cinnamon EO (CEO); the most abundant compound in MEO was menthol (68.61%), and the most abundant compound was cinnamaldehyde (83.32%) in CEO. The antibacterial activity of MEO and CEO were examined in vapor and direct contact with S. typhimurium at temperatures of 4 °C, 25 °C, and 37 °C. The minimal inhibitory concentration at 37 °C for MEO and CEO reached 20.83 µL/mL, and the minimal bactericidal concentration of CEO was the same, while for MEO, it was two-fold higher. We report that in most tested conditions in experiments performed in vitro and on chicken skin, CEO exhibits a stronger antibacterial effect than MEO. In the vapor phase, MEO was more effective against S. typhimurium than CEO at 4 °C. In direct contact, the growth of S. typhimurium was inhibited more efficiently by MEO than CEO at small concentrations and a longer exposure time at 37 °C. The exploration of CEO and MEO employment for the inhibition of Salmonella bacteria at different temperatures and conditions expands the possibilities of developing more environment- and consumer-friendly antibacterial protection for raw meat.

Oligomers of restructured-carrageenan impart resilience towards nickel-triggered pernicious outcomes in Mentha arvensis L.

Radiation degradation occurs through ionizing radiations, an eco-friendly, effective, simple and single-step degradation process in which the degraded products are structurally modified (chemical modification). Nickel (Ni) manifests beneficial effects at minimal concentrations and becomes toxic at higher concentrations, thereby affecting the yield, growth and development of plants. Therefore, the present study was conducted to explore the role of structurally-modified carrageenan in imparting resilience towards nickel-triggered phytotoxicity in Mentha arvensis L. and to prove the structure-function relationship of irradiated carrageenan (ICA). The various treatments applied through foliage to the Mentha arvensis L. plant were Control, ICA (80 mg L−1), ICA (100 mg L−1), ICA (120 mg L−1), Ni (80 mg kg−1), Ni (80 mg kg−1) + ICA (80 mg L−1), Ni (80 mg kg−1) + ICA (100 mg L−1) and Ni (80 mg kg−1) + ICA (120 mg L−1). The characterization techniques employed for analysis of carrageenan samples include scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The present study was based on growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant enzymatic activities, oxidative stress biomarkers, SEM, confocal analysis of leaves and roots, and quality and yield parameters. A significant reduction of 16.45%, 22.01%, 15.38%, and 10.15% was noticed in the values of maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzyme activity, essential oil (EO) content, and menthol content under Ni stress (80 mg kg−1). However, the foliar supplementation of 100 mg L−1 ICA enriched the values of the said parameters by 15.15%, 22.82%, 23.63%, and 4.25%, respectively. The oxidative stress biomarkers were escalated by 47.92%, 50.95%, and 35.35% for electrolyte leakage (EL), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content in Ni-stressed plants. Although, a significant down-regulation of 46.62%, 66.97%, and 32.50% was recorded in plants grown in Ni-contaminated soil and supplemented with ICA best dose.

Effect of land configuration, irrigation regimes and nitrogen application on growth, yield and quality of Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis)

An experiment was conducted during summer season of 2016–17 at the Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, to study the effect of land configuration, irrigation regimes and nitrogen application on growth, yield and quality of Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis). The treatments consisted of 3 land configurations (flat-bed planting, ridge planting and raised-bed planting), 3 irrigation regimes 0.8 irrigation water: cumulative pan evaporation (IW: CPE), 1.0 IW: CPE and 1.2 IW: CPE ratio) and 3 nitrogen levels recommended dose of nitrogen [(RDN) 160 kg N/ha], 75% RDN (120 kg N/ha) and 125% RDN (200 kg N/ha)] in a splitplot design with 3 replications. Raised-bed planting recorded the maximum leaves/plant (188.8), plant fresh weight (1868 g/m2 ), leaf: stem ratio (1.84), herbage (1.80 t/ha) and oil yield (136.5 lit./ha) than the ridge and flat-bed planting. Irrigating the crop at an IW: CPE ratio of 1.2 resulted in the highest growth parameters, herb (1.71 t/ha) and oil yield (130.1 lit./ha) and quality parameters over other irrigation regimes. Significantly the maximum crop growth [leaves/plant (189.8), plant fresh weight (1784 g/m2), leaf: stem ratio (1.77)], herbage (1.71 t/ha) and oil yield (131.9 lit./ha); and quality parameters [carotenoid content (2.66 mg/g fresh weight), menthone content (6.23%), menthol content (72.0%) and oil content (0.77%)] were recorded with the application of 125% RDN over 75% RDN and it was at par with 100% RDN. This study indicated that planting on raised bed, irrigation at 1.2 IW: CPE ratio and the application of 125% RDN (200 kg N/ha) gave higher yield and quality of Japanese mint.

Behavioral responses of field-collected German cockroaches to pyrethroids and pyrethroid-formulated insecticides.

Pyrethroids are synthetic insecticides with low mammalian toxicity and broad-spectrum activity across insects. One major challenge with pyrethroids is their perceived repellency. This perception can influence decisions made by pest control operators, especially when insecticides are used to reduce insect entry into or movement within structures. One major indoor pest that has been repeatedly shown to be repelled by some pyrethroids is the German cockroach, Blattella germanica. However, most experiments evaluating pyrethroid repellency in the German cockroach have used end-point assays, which do not provide information on the movement that led to the final position. Therefore, we evaluated the kinetic behavioral response of field-collected German cockroaches to five pyrethroid-based products and their active ingredients (A.I.) in open behavioral arenas using advanced video tracking software. In addition, in an effort to compare our free-moving experiments with end-point assays, we evaluated sheltering behavior using two-choice harborage arrestment assays where German cockroaches were provided a choice between pyrethroid-treated and untreated shelters. All pyrethroid-formulated products and their respective A.I.'s failed to affect field-collected German cockroach movement behavior in free-moving assays, while positive controls (DEET, corn mint oil) resulted in reduced time spent by German cockroaches in treated areas. However, despite their willingness to move over pyrethroids-treated surfaces, field-collected German cockroaches displayed a reduced propensity to arrest on pyrethroids treated tents. While most pyrethroids/pyrethroid-formulated products affected German cockroach arrestment, pyrethroids and pyrethroid-formulated products failed to change German cockroach movement behavior in free-moving assays. These results indicate the pyrethroids tested act as contact irritants rather than true-spatial repellents on field-collected German cockroaches. This distinction is critical to refining pest management strategies involving pyrethroids. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Uranium and Fluoride Accumulation in Vegetable and Cereal Crops: A Review on Current Status and Crop-Wise Differences

Uranium (U) and fluoride (F−) contamination in agricultural products, especially vegetable and cereal crops, has raised serious concerns about food safety and human health on a global scale. To date, numerous studies have reported U and F− contamination in vegetable and cereal crops at local scales, but the available information is dispersed, and crop-wise differences are lacking. This paper reviews the current status of knowledge on this subject by compiling relevant published literatures between 1983 and 2023 using databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Based on the median values, F− levels ranged from 0.5 to 177 mg/kg, with higher concentrations in non-leafy vegetables, such as Indian squash “Praecitrullus fistulosus” (177 mg/kg) and cucumber “Cucumis sativus” (96.25 mg/kg). For leafy vegetables, the maximum levels were recorded in bathua “Chenopodium album” (72.01 mg/kg) and mint “Mentha arvensis” (44.34 mg/kg), where more than 50% of the vegetable varieties had concentrations of >4 mg/kg. The concentration of U ranged from 0.01 to 17.28 mg/kg; tubers and peels of non-leafy vegetables, particularly radishes “Raphanus sativus” (1.15 mg/kg) and cucumber “Cucumis sativus” (0.42 mg/kg), contained higher levels. These crops have the potential to form organometallic complexes with U, resulting in more severe threats to human health. For cereal crops (based on median values), the maximum F− level was found in bajra “Pennisetum glaucum” (15.18 mg/kg), followed by chana “Cicer arietinum” (7.8 mg/kg) and split green gram “Vigna mungo” (4.14 mg/kg), while the maximum accumulation of U was recorded for barley “Hordeum vulgare” (2.89 mg/kg), followed by split green gram “Vigna mungo” (0.45 mg/kg). There are significant differences in U and F− concentrations in either crop type based on individual studies or countries. These differences can be explained mainly due to changes in geogenic and anthropogenic factors, thereby making policy decisions related to health and intake difficult at even small spatial scales. Methodologies for comprehensive regional—or larger—policy scales will require further research and should include strategies to restrict crop intake in specified “hot spots”.

Acute Study of the Effect of Peppermint Oil (Mentha arvensis) as Anesthetic Material on the Survival Rate and Blood Profile of Blitar Koi Fish (Cyprinus carpio)

The Koi fish (Cyprinus carpio) is an ornamental fish that is in high demand by the public today. Its beauty, variety of colors, and patterns. Importantly, the fact that according to local belief, koi will deliver good fortunes for the owner. It makes Koi an ideal ornamental fish. Due to the high interest in koi fish, many cultivators especially in the enlargement process see the potential and the profitable business opportunity in it. And in this business, the distribution process is a really important part. But unfortunately, in many cases, this process can cause a high mortality rate. And using anesthetic during the distribution process was expected to reduce the mortality rate of the fish. In this research, peppermint oil (Mentha arvensis) is used as the substance which is known to consist of menthol. And in previous studies, menthol can cause anesthetic effects on the fishes. The research was held from 13 February to 23 March 2023 at the Mijen Fish Seed Center, Semarang, Central Java. The method I have been using was a Completely Randomized Design Method (CRD Method) using 4 treatments with 3 repetitions. The treatment given was the addition of peppermint oil at a dose of A 0 ml/L, B 0.02 ml/L, C 0.04 ml/L, and D 0.06 ml/L. The number of samples tested was 84 fry with a size of 8-10 cm with a density are 7 fish/2 liters of water. The results showed that the addition of peppermint oil (Mentha arvensis) had a significant effect (P<0.05) on induction time, recovery time, glucose, and survival rate, but did not have a significant effect (P>0.05) on leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. The best results were obtained in treatment C 0.04 ml/L with an average induction time are 18 minutes and a recovery time are 6 minutes 91 seconds, the survival rate of the fish was 85.71% and the blood profile was still normal.

Performance Assessment of Japanese Mint Varieties for Growth under Open Field and Vertical A-Frame Structure

Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.), is a member of the family Lamiaceae which is a perennial herbaceous aromatic plant but cultivated as an annual for culinary purpose as leafy vegetable and as natural menthol extraction. It is a major source of raw material for flavours and fragrance industry. Urban regions are losing cultivable land every day and it has become extremely difficult to produce fresh vegetables of high quality. By using vertical structures, vertical space can be utilized while increasing the quality of vegetable production. This experiment was conducted at Department of Vegetable Science, Horticultural College & Research Institute, Periyakulam during 2022-2023 to evaluate the performance of nine varieties viz., Kosi (V1), CIM-Kranti (V2), Himalaya (V3), Kalka (V4), MAS-1 (V5), Saksham (V6), Gomti (V7), Seelayampatti local (V8) and Bangalore hybrid (V9) under open field (G1) and vertical A-frame structure (G2) condition. One vertical A-frame structure is used in this study which contain 516 holes for planting. Among the nine varieties, Saksham (V6) showed increase in growth parameters in both conditions. The observations on growth parameters were recorded for plant height(cm), number of leaves, root length(cm), fresh weight of roots(g) and dry weight of roots(g). Saksham variety in vertical A-frame structure yielded maximum plant height (53.05 cm), number of leaves (112.73), root length (39.92 cm), fresh weight of roots (3.204g) and dry weight of roots (0.874g) followed by the variety CIM-Kranti in vertical A-frame structure (48.83cm, 77.61, 37.75cm, 2.582g and 0.648g). As a result, the interactive action of G2V6 showed maximum growth due to the availability of nutrients in the root system and timely application of water and nutrient helped in better plant parameters.

Chromium oversupply induces harmful impacts on Mentha arvensis L. by destabilizing photosynthetic machinery and other physiological markers

Chromium (Cr) is the seventh most toxic heavy metal on the earth's crust. Crop growth, development, and yield are greatly hindered by the massive accumulation of Cr that discharges from various industries and mines in agricultural land. Chromium can mediate phytotoxicity either via direct interaction with multiple plant components and metabolic pathways or by promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Thus, this investigation evaluated the effect of Cr on growth, physiological and oxidative stress, and other parameters, including essential oil (EO) constituents of Mentha arvensis L. plants. The soil was treated with various concentrations of Cr (10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg kg−1), except the control. In this study, 20 mg kg−1 of Cr concentration was beneficial in increasing plant growth via the enhancement of biomass, photosynthesis, biochemical markers and EO constituents in M. arvensis. The data demonstrated that the morphological and physiological parameters were negatively correlated with high Cr concentrations (above 20 mg kg−1). It has been hypothesized that Cr poisoning leads to oxidative damage, as evidenced by decreases in photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll, and stomatal characteristics, as well as increases in lipid peroxidation and ROS. The accumulation of Cr positively correlates with the enhancement of proline and antioxidant activities of M. arvensis. Thus, we concluded that excess Cr causes redox imbalance by uplifting the level of lipid peroxidation and ROS by destabilizing photosynthetic machinery and other physiological and morphological markers in plants.

PHYTOCHEMICAL RESEARCH OF SOME ETHANOMEDICINAL PLANTS OF FAMILY LAMIACEAE FROM FOREST RANGE OF VILLAGE PIMPALGAON CHILAMKHA TQ. DEULGAON RAJA DIST.BULDHANA (MS)

ABSTRACT
 The members of lamiaceae family consist of fragrant plants which can be being used in traditional medicine for diverse problems used as medicinal drug all around the global. Also, some of the secondary metabolites remoted from this family have proven interesting biological function. In this study we've got analyzed phytochemicals of some plant life from lamiaceae own family (ocimum sanctum, ocimum gratissimum, mentha arvensis). The plant species were accrued and systematically recognized for the duration of last two years i.e 2020 to 2022. The conventional and neighborhood makes use of of collected flowers have been questioned via knowledgeable consent semi-structured interviews with nearby informants. The samples had been extracted the usage of solvents like chloroform, ethanol, and water. Phytochemical analysis was performed to check the presence of compounds inclusive of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and terpenoides. The presence of these phytochemicals can be correlated with the medicinal capacity of this plant.
 Keywords: medicinal plants, lamiaceae, acetone extract, methanol extract, water extract phytochemicals

Effects of associations of cabbage with Mentha arvensis L. and Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Brown on insect pests of Crucifera at an experimental station

Effects of associations of cabbage with Mentha arvensis L. and Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Brown on insect pests of Crucifera at an experimental station

Effects of Skin Inflammation Related Cytokine on Mentha arvensis Ethanol Extract (MT)

In the present study, we examined the effects of the ethanol extract of <i>Mentha arvensis</i> on skin inflammation and anti-allergic effect in various cell lines; human fibroblast cells (hFCs), human mast cells (HMC-1) and human monocytic cells (THP-1) cells. Treatment with <i>Mentha arvensis</i> extract at a concentration of 250 ㎍/㎖ for 24h showed no significant decrease in the survival rate of the hFCs, HMC-1, THP-1. The final concentration was set at 200 ㎍/㎖ or less. <i>Mentha arvensis</i> extract significantly decreased the mRNA expression of IL-8, and IL-6 at 200 ㎍/㎖ in HMC-1 cells. <i>Mentha arvensis</i> extract treatment significantly inhibited the protein expression of IL-6 and, IL-8 induced by mite at 200 ㎍/㎖ in THP-1 cells. We examined the alternation of histamine release in HMC-1 cells for investigating anti-allergic effect of <i>Mentha arvensis</i>. Histamine secretion was significantly decreased at 200 ㎍/㎖, 100 ㎍/㎖ after the treatment with <i>Mentha arvensis</i>. In addition, <i>Mentha arvensis</i> extract treatment at a concentration of 50 ㎍/㎖, 100 ㎍/㎖, and 200 ㎍/㎖ lowered the β-hexosaminidase to 10.3%, 21.7%, and 50.8%, respectively. IC50 of <i>Mentha arvensis</i> extract in RBL-2H3 cells was 196.85 ㎍/㎖. The activity of NF-κB promoter cells significantly decreased at 200 ㎍/㎖, 100 ㎍/㎖ after the dose-dependent treatment of <i>Mentha arvensis</i>. Therefore, our results indicate that <i>Mentha arvensis</i> has anti-inflammatory and it may be useful for treating skin barrier damage, which is problematic in allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis.

Carotenoid composition in twenty ulam species as potential halal active pharmaceutical ingredients

Ulam is a traditional Southeast Asian vegetable that has been consumed and practised by old folks for decades. Several studies have found that ulam has numerous benefits, including being high in natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, vitamins, and minerals and being used as an early illness preventive method. Even yet, many ulam have yet to be identified and documented. This study aimed to identify the carotenoid content and composition in a variety of ulam species as a potential halal active pharmaceutical ingredient. The individual carotenoid composition was examined in twenty ulam species with three groups of distinct parts: leaves, fruits, and rhizomes. Using HPLC analysis, neoxanthin, lutein, and β-carotene were the primary carotenoids discovered in the overall species. The results presented 12 species with 4 carotenoid pigments, 4 species with 3 carotenoid pigments, 2 species with 2 carotenoid pigments and 2 species with 1 carotenoid pigment. Mentha arvensis (51.38±0.24 µg/g DW) has substantially greater neoxanthin. In contrast, Manihot esculenta (1179±9.90 µg/g DW), (457±2.12 µg/g DW), and (2434.5±5.66 µg/g DW) had significantly higher β-carotene, lutein, and violaxanthin, respectively. Naturally available carotenoid sources as prospective components for halal pharmaceutical products will be discovered as a result of this research. These proven findings have also given communities the confidence to include ulam in their daily diets because it is a natural source with exceptional biological qualities.

Biostimulant Application Alleviates the Negative Effects of Deficit Irrigation and Improves Growth Performance, Essential Oil Yield and Water-Use Efficiency of Mint Crop

The scarcity of water is limiting crop production and is one of the most important stressors that severely affects crop yield, and it may also decrease the quality of the final products. Most of the medicinal and aromatic plants are considered resilient to water stress and constitute a sustainable choice for crop production in arid and semiarid conditions. In the present study, we examined the effect of scheduled deficit irrigation (e.g., I1: 40% of field capacity); I2: 70% of field capacity; and I3: 100% of field capacity) combined with biostimulant application (four different products that consisted of nitrogenous compounds and carboxylic acids (M1); nitrogenous compounds and seaweed extracts (M2); humic and fulvic acids and seaweed extracts (M3); and CaO, SiO2, calcium mobilization and translocation factor and microminerals (M4)) on crop performance and essential oil production of mint plants (Mentha arvensis L.). Our aim was to define an irrigation regime that increases water-use efficiency and the biostimulant products that alleviate water stress effects. Our results indicate that moderate deficit irrigation (I2 treatment) and biostimulants that contained seaweed extracts and nitrogenous compounds and humic and fulvic acids (M2 and M3 treatments, respectively) significantly improved yield parameters in terms of fresh and dry herb yield and essential oil production. Moreover, the same biostimulant treatments significantly increased water-use efficiency of mint crops based on the various yield parameters tested in this study. In conclusion, our results indicate that selection of proper biostimulatory products may allow to apply deficit irrigation regimes in mint cultivation without compromising the crop performance in terms of both biomass production and essential oil yield. Therefore, the combination of these agronomic tools could facilitate water saving strategies in arid and semiarid regions and contribute to the sustainable management of water resources.

The lepidopteran pest complex infesting menthol mint in India: Distribution during the crop development, species composition and associated parasitoids

Menthol mint, Mentha arvensis L. is an important aromatic and medicinal herb cultivated as an industrial crop for its essential oil in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India. The commercial production of menthol mint suffers due to defoliation caused by lepidopteran pests and currently becoming a serious constraint for its clean cultivation. The information on occurrence of lepidopteran caterpillars defoliating menthol mint in the region is limited. In this study, we assessed the occurrence and injury caused by lepidopteran pests from seven major menthol mint growing districts of the Indo-Gangetic plains of India. Further, the species composition of lepidopteran pests and their associated parasitoids were also reported. The survey revealed that seven lepidopteran pest infestations were recorded on different phenological growth stages of menthol mint in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India. The larval population density of lepidopteran pests was significantly different between the districts, species and phenological stages of menthol mint. The larval population density of the lepidopteran pest varied between 0.41 ± 0.31 to 2.37 ± 1.43 larvae/m2 across the locations. The higher occurrence of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius), Spilarctia obliqua Walker and Thysanoplusia orichalcea (Fabricius) was recorded in menthol mint. The higher incidence of lepidopteran pests was recorded at the mid-vegetative growth stage of menthol mint. This study found eight parasitoids parasitizing egg and larval stages of lepidopteran pests. The parasitism rate of egg parasitoids, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii and Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti was 23.53–35.31% and 27.78% to the eggs of Helicoverpa armigera and T. orichalcea, respectively. The larval parasitoids caused a total of 5.78% larval parasitism to the various lepidopteran pests of menthol mints. This information provides a current pest status of lepidopteran pests infesting menthol mint in Indo-Gangetic plains of India. This baseline information could be used for the development of management strategies against lepidopteran pests for sustainable menthol mint production.

Effect of Row Ratio and Planting Methods on Growth, Yield Performance of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Mentha (Mentha arvensis L.)

This study was investigates the effects of row ratio and planting methods on the cultivation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and mentha (Mentha arvensis L.). Mentha is also called Japanese mint, it is an important essential oil-bearing plant of the family Lamiaceae. Essential oil obtained from the leaves used in aromatherapy, flavour, and pharmaceutical industries. Hence, a field experiment was conducted during 2016-17 at the Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm to investigate the response of mentha when intercropped with wheat under various row ratios and planting methods. The trial was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications keeping one variety of Mentha ‘Shivalik’& Wheat ‘Halna’. The experiment consisting of nine treatments are T1:Sole Mentha direct sowing (50 cm apart), T2:sole mentha transplanting (50 cm apart), T3:sole wheat (25 cm apart), T4:wheat+mentha (1:1), T5:wheat+mentha (1:1), T6:wheat+mentha (2:2), T7:wheat+mentha (2:2), T8:wheat paired+mentha (2:3), T9: wheat paired+mentha (2:3). The results showed that the highest number of leaves per plant (457 at maturity) and number of branches per plant (80.97 at 90 DAS) were observed in Wheat Paired+Mentha (T9). The sole wheat (T3) exhibited the maximum number of tillers per plant in wheat (6.20). wheat+mentha (T4) had the highest yield attributes for wheat. The higher herbage yield of mentha (177 q/ha) was found in wheat+mentha (T7). Sole Mentha direct sowing (T1) gave the highest oil content (0.85%) and oil yield (163.35 l/ha) of mentha. The wheat paired+mentha (T8) recorded the highest equivalent oil yield (189.97 l/ha) and land equivalent ratio (1.50). However, sole wheat (T3) yielded the maximum grain yield (39.80 q/ha), straw yield (74.52 q/ha), and harvesting index (38.95%).