Mentha Spicata Var Research Articles

Antifungal Activities of Essential Oil Obtained from Mentha Spicata var. Crispa against Selected Penicillium Species

Attention of the scientific community has still focused on application of essential oils (EOs) as natural antifungal agents in the food industry to prolong the shelf-life of food products. In this regard, the current study was designed to evaluate chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and antifungal (in vitro, in situ) activities of spearmint (Mentha spicata var. crispa) essential oil (SEO) commercially obtained from Slovak company against selected Penicillium species. The EO was used in four concentrations (62.5, 125, 250, and 500 µL/L) chosen, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, DPPH, agar disc diffusion and vapor phase methods were employed for such analyses. Our results revealed carvone (57.5%) and α-limonene (17.6%) to be the principal constituents in the EO chemical composition. Although only a weak antioxidant capacity (20.40 ± 0.80% free radical-scavenging inhibition) was displayed by the SEO, the highest EO concentration (500 µL/L) was shown to be a moderate growth inhibitor of P. expansum (inhibition zone of 11.46 ± 0.63 mm) and P. crustosum (inhibition zones of 12.93 ± 0.46 mm). The growth of P. citrinum was only weakly inhibited by the SEO (≥ 250 µL/L). Most importantly, the ability of the SEO to inhibit the mycelial growth of three Penicillium spp. tested was pronounced (P < 0.05) for all applied concentrations. Accordingly, the results from the current study complement our previous ones dealing with the possibility of utilizing diverse EOs commercially achieved from the same company in the food sector.

Some Specific Features of The Biochemical Composition of the Raw Material of Mint (Mentha spicata var. Crispa L.)

Some Specific Features of The Biochemical Composition of the Raw Material of Mint (Mentha spicata var. Crispa L.)

Inter and intra GC-MS differential analysis of the essential oils of three Mentha species growing in Egypt

Gas chromatographic mass spectrometric analysis using head space was carried out on the roots, stems and leaves of three different species of Mint grown in Egypt. This study was carried out aiming to investigate the chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from roots, stem and leaves of Mentha piperita L, Mentha spicata Var. crispa L. and Mentha pulegum L. Also, we are looking to find out any difference in chemical composition between the studied species, through their studied organs. Study of different organs of the same species may give us an idea about the essential oil biosynthetic pathway and may serve as the chemotaxonomic marker for a specific species.Identification of the chemical components of the studied essential oils depends on their retention time, their Kovat retention index and their mass spectrum supported by the data from Wiley library. Results obtained revealed an obvious inter or intra differences in the chemical composition of the three mentioned Mentha species. The common components in all species (in one or more organ) are 35 components, the major of which is P-menthone (32.24%) in Mentha piperita leaf. Regarding the unique components it was found that Mentha piperita contain 7 unique components the major of which is 2,4-(10)-thujadien (3.88%), while Mentha spicata has 18 unique components the major one is Cymene (24.44%) and finally Mentha pulegum has 11 unique components the major one is (+)-Isomenthol (16.64%).

Evaporation of Spearmint (Mentha spicata var. viridis L.) Herb Oil during One Year of Storage under Semi-Arid Condition

Evaporation of Spearmint (Mentha spicata var. viridis L.) Herb Oil during One Year of Storage under Semi-Arid Condition

Microbiological quality of chicken thighs meat after four essential oils combination, EDTA and vaccum packing

The aim of the present work to monitoring chicken the microbiological quality of vaccum packaged thighs after treatment by ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), anise (Pimpinella anisum), spearmint (Mentha spicata var. crispa), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) essential oils and stored in at 4 ±0.5 °C for a period of 16 days. The following treatments of chicken thighs were used: air-packaged control samples, control vacuum-packaged samples, vacuum-packaging with EDTA solution 1.5% w/w, control samples, vacuum-packaging after treatment with Pimpinella anisum, Mentha spicata var. crispa essential oil at concentrations 0.2% v/w, vacuum-packaging after treatment with Thymus vulgaris L., Origanum vulgare L. essential oil at concentration 0.2% v/w. The quality assessment of all samples was done microbiologically and following microbiological parameters were detected: the anaerobic plate count, Enterobacteraceae counts, lactic acid bacteria and Pseudomonas spp. counts. The number of anaerobic plate count ranged from 3.69 log CFU.g-1 in all tested group on 0 day to 5.68 log CFU.g-1 on 16 day in control group stored in air condition. The number of lactic acid bacteria ranged from 2.00 log CFU.g-1 in all tested group on 0 day to 4.82 log CFU.g-1 on 16 day in group with oregano, thyme essential oils combination. Enterobacteriacea counts in chicken thighs was 0.68 log CFU.g-1 on 0 day to 7.58 CFU.g-1 on 16 day in air-packed meat samples. The Pseudomonas spp. was not found in all tested samples. Among the antimicrobial combination treatments examined in this work, the as application of vacuum packaging, EDTA and essential oils treatment was the most effective against the growth of Enterobactericeae, inhibitory effect on anaerobic plate count also was observed. The results of this present study suggest the possibility of application the Pimpinella anisum, Mentha spicata var. crispa, Thymus vulgaris L., Origanum vulgare L. essential oil of as natural food preservatives and potential sources of antimicrobial ingredients for food industry for chicken thighs meat treatment.

Addendum: Šarić-Kundalić, B.; Fialová, S.; Dobeš, C.; Ölzant, S.; Tekeľová, D.; Grančai, D.; Reznicek, G.; Saukel, J. Multivariate Numerical Taxonomy of Mentha Species, Hybrids, Varieties and Cultivars. Sci. Pharm. 2009, 77, 851–876

In the published paper [1], the following plant species are listed: Mentha longifolia var. lavanduliodora, Mentha spicata and Mentha spicata var. crispa.[...]

DEVELOPMENT OF WATER CULTURE SYSTEM DEPENDING ON RENEWABLE ENERGY TO SUIT REMOTE AREAS

This study aims to evaluate two closed solar pumping systems with hydroponic (NFT) units using (large and small scale-models with same mechanism, and were planted with cucumber (Cucumis sativus L, Beta Alpha var.) and mint (Mentha viridis, Mentha spicata var. ciliate) respectively to present a suitable solution for electricity problem in the remote areas, as well as aims to introduce a water saving technique (hydroponic), to cope with water scarcity problem in arid areas. The effect of daily solar radiation and motor speed (rpm) on the water flow rate of the two systems were evaluated, the results indicated that as daily solar radiation increased, the motor speed (rpm) increased, and consequently the flow rate increased for the two pumping systems, but the increasing of the flow rate for DC motor pump was more effective. The average leaf area was determined at the end of the culture season for cucumber and mint. The results indicated that the water consumption for one plant of cucumber and mint were 46.7 and 9.4 litters respectively at the end of the season, and (WUE) for one plant of cucumber and mint were 53.5 and 42.328 g/liter respectively, also, the average leaf area for one plant of cucumber and mint were 196.08 and 2.7 cm2 respectively.

Effect of Refinery on Spearmint (Mentha spicata var. Viridis l) Oil Quality

The experiment was to evaluate the effect of three levels of redistillation of spearmint oil on spearmint quality such as physicochemical properties of the oil. Spearmint (Mentha spicata var. Viridis) plants were raised from underground runners obtained from fully mature plants. Eighty milligrams of spearmint oil were distilled in 200 ml of distilled water. Oil was extracted by water distillation according to the technique of British Pharmacopoeia. Physico-chemical properties including, relative density, optical rotation, refractive index, acid value and ester value were determined according to British Standards Institute. The process was repeated to give the first, second and third refined levels. Relative density, optical rotation and refractive index of spearmint oil significantly decreased with progress in the refining process. Acid values showed a decrease trend from 0.8475 in the crude oil to 0.5610, 0.4210 and 0.3740 in the first, second and third refined oils, respectively. Ester values significantly increased during the refining process from 11.22 in the crude oil to 12.01, 13.09 and 13.50 in the three levels of refining, respectively.

Potential anticancer activity of carvone in N2a neuroblastoma cell line

Carvone (CVN) is a monocyclic monoterpene found in the essential oils of Mentha spicata var. crispa (Lamiaceae) and Carum carvi L. (Apiaceae) plants and has been reported to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, and antitumor activities. The beneficial health properties of CVN have encouraged us to look into its anticancer activity. To the best of our knowledge, reports are not available on the anticancer activity of CVN in cultured primary rat neuron and N2a neuroblastoma (NB) cells. Therefore, the present study is an attempt toward exploring the potential anticancer activity of CVN, if any, in cultured primary rat neuron and N2a NB cells. Our results indicated that CVN (only at 25 mg/L) treatment led to an increase in the total antioxidant capacity levels in cultured primary rat neuron cells compared with control cells. Also, CVN (at concentrations higher than 100 mg/L) treatment led to an increase in the total oxidative stress levels in both cell types. The mean values of the total scores of cells showing DNA damage (for comet assay) were not found to be significantly different from the control values in both cells (p > 0.05). On the other hand, after 24 h treatment with CVN, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that CVN application significantly reduced the cell viability rates in both cell types at concentrations higher than 100 mg/L. Summarizing, our data suggest that CVN represents little potential for promising anticancer agent to improve brain tumors therapy.

(−)-Carvone: Antispasmodic effect and mode of action

(−)-Carvone is a monoterpene ketone found in spearmint (Mentha spicata var. crispa) essential oil that is widely used as an odor and flavor additive. An intestinal antispasmodic effect was recently reported for (−)-carvone, and it has been shown to be more potent than its (+)-antipode. The mechanism of (−)-carvone action in the intestines has not been investigated. To gain a better understanding of the (−)-carvone antispasmodic effect, we investigated its pharmacological effects in the guinea pig ileum. Terminal portions of the ileum were mounted for isotonic contraction recordings. The effect of (−)-carvone was compared with that of the classical calcium channel blocker (CCB) verapamil. In isolated ileal smooth muscle, (−)-carvone did not produce direct contractile or relaxation responses and did not modify electrically elicited contractions or low K+-evoked contractions. The submaximal contractions induced by histamine (p<0.001), BaCl2 (p<0.05), and carbachol (p<0.01) were significantly reduced by (−)-carvone. The contractile response elicited by high concentrations of carbachol was reduced but not abolished by (−)-carvone. No additive action was detected with co-incubation of (−)-carvone and verapamil on carbachol-induced contraction. (−)-Carvone reduced the contraction induced by high K+ and was almost 100 times more potent than verapamil. Thus, (−)-carvone showed a typical and potent CCB-like action. Many effects described for both (−)-carvone and spearmint oil can be explained as a CCB-like mode of action.

Activity of essential oils in vapour phase against Paenibacillus larvae

Paenibacillus larvae subspecies larvae, a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium, is the causative agent of the American foulbrood (AFB), one of the most serious and destructive brood diseases of honeybees. AFB is a problem for beekeepers world-wide [1]. Thus, in this study we have tested eight essential oils from aromatic plants against two strains of P. larvae, one wild strain isolated from infected honeybee colony (15/08f4) and one standard strain (ATCC 9545). For the tests we have used disc volatilization method, as the application of chemicals in vapour phase in the beehives is simple and common. In addition, several products containing thymol against parasitic mite Varroa destructor are commercially available. Four essential oils were active in the range of tested concentrations (from 1 to 256 nl/ml). The most active was EO from Armoracia rusticana (MICs 16 nl/ml) followed by Thymus vulgaris (MIC 64 nl/ml), Mentha spicata var. crispa (MICs 64 and 128 nl/l against wild and standard strain, respectively) and Satureja hortensis (MICs 128 and 256 nl/ml, respectively). The results are quite promising, the toxicity of active EO against honeybees and possible organoleptic changes of bee products will be checked in the next phase.

Antihistaminic flavones and aliphatic glycosides from Mentha spicata

The ethyl acetate soluble portion of the methanol extract of Mentha spicata var. crispa showed inhibitory activity on exocytosis in antigen-stimulated rat basophils. The bioassay-guided separation of the components of this fraction afforded 13 compounds. The chemical structures were elucidated to be four known flavonoids, three new and five known glucosides of lower alcohls and rosmarinic acid by means of chemical and spectroscopic evidences. Among them, three compounds showed biological activity. From the non-active 1-butanol soluble portion of the methanol extract, four new and two known structurally related glycosides were isolated and characterized.

The Essential Oil ofMentha spicataL. var.crispaBenth. from Nepal

ABSTRACT The essential oil of Mentha spicata var. crispa of Nepalese origin was examined by GC/MS. It was found to be rich in L-carvone. The plant used in this study, which was regenerated from a shoot apex mericlone, was found to have a chromosome number of 2n=48.