Mentha spicata L. (Persian: Naana Dashti) is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat respiratory and digestive disorders. Given its industrial importance and complex chemical profile, this study investigates how environmental factors are associated with the essential oil yield, chemical composition, and antibacterial activity of M. spicata in the mountainous regions of Kashan (Barzok, Hosnarood, Kamoo, and Viduj). Essential oils were extracted via a Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed by GC-MS. Antibacterial efficacy was assessed using the agar well diffusion (D IZ), MIC, and MBC methods. Results indicated that the highest essential oil yield occurred in Hosnarood (5.04%) and the lowest in Kamoo (1.08%), correlating with the lowest and highest altitudes and Plant Available Water (P.A.W) levels, respectively. Carvone was the predominant constituent in Viduj (63.98%), Hosnarood (54.45%) Kamoo (47.01%), and Barzok (46.85%), which showed a relationship with altitude variations. The essential oil from Barzok showed the strongest inhibition against Bacillus subtilis (12 mm), while Kamoo's oil was most effective against Escherichia coli (9.5 mm), both exhibiting relatively strong activity compared to Rifampin. In conclusion, altitude, water availability, and soil properties are significantly associated with the essential oil profile and biological potency of M. spicata, highlighting the importance of habitat selection for optimizing high-quality production.

Infectious microorganisms are among the major factors that complicate skin and wound infections, highlighting the need for novel antimicrobial agents of natural origin. In this in vitro study, the essential oils (EOs) of four Lamiaceae species (Mentha longifolia (L.) L., Mentha spicata L., Salvia reuteriana Boiss., and Teucrium polium L.) collected from Kashan, Iran, were evaluated for their chemical composition and antimicrobial activity against selected standard microbial strains. The aerial parts were collected from three regions (Cheshme Shahsavaran, Nushabad, and Sefidshahr), and EOs were extracted using hydrodistillation with a Clevenger apparatus. Chemical constituents were analyzed by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods to determine inhibition zone diameter, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis (CIP 81.55) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29737); three Gram-negative bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 10031), Proteus mirabilis (ATCC 43071), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853); and one yeast strain, Candida albicans (ATCC 10231).The highest EO yield (2.37%) was obtained from M. spicata, while S. reuteriana showed the lowest yield (0.43%). GC-MS analysis identified pulegone (38.63%) in M. longifolia, carvone (50.47%) in M. spicata, α-pinene (18.92%) in T. polium, and n-hexyl benzoate (82.14%) in S. reuteriana. Among the tested samples, M. longifolia EOs showed the highest activity among the evaluated EOs, with a 10mm inhibition zone against S. epidermidis and the lowest MIC value (250µg/mL) against C. albicans. M. spicata EOs also demonstrated measurable in vitro activity against P. aeruginosa (MIC = 250µg/mL). These findings provide preliminary experimental evidence that EOs from these native Lamiaceae species contain bioactive constituents with measurable in vitro antimicrobial activity. However, further mechanistic investigations and in vivo studies are necessary to clarify their biological relevance and potential applications.

This study investigates the volatile composition of twelve medicinal plant species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, which are widely recognized for their diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Despite extensive studies on essential oils, comparative analyses using solvent-free techniques under different microclimatic conditions remain limited. This study investigates the volatile compounds in twelve medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae family using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS). Lamiaceae plants are recognized for their diverse medicinal properties, including antioxidative, antibacterial, and antifungal effects. A total of 74 volatile compounds were identified, encompassing terpenes, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, and ketones. Notably, Lavandula spica L. exhibited the highest number of unique volatiles (28), while Melissa officinalis L. had the fewest (16). Key compounds included Citral (65.48%) in Melissa officinalis L., Menthol (33.37%) and Menthyl acetate (30.53%) in Mentha piperita L., Carvone (45.86%) in Mentha spicata L., and Eucalyptol (54.71%) in Origanum syriacum L. Plants from Adana Botanic Park were rich in terpenes and ketones, whereas those from Osmaniye contained higher levels of alcohols, aldehydes, and esters. The findings emphasize the impact of geographic location on volatile profiles and suggest avenues for further research into medicinal efficacy and optimal dosage. This study supports the sustainable use of plant biodiversity (SDG 15) and highlights the importance of bioactive compounds for human health and well-being (SDG 3).

BackgroundLamiaceae and Verbenaceae are taxonomically sister families, belong to the order Lamiales. They are well known for their phytochemical constituents with bio-active properties, but considerable taxonomic difficulties in discriminating between the two families have been reported. The present study aims to explore the morpho-anatomical characters (stem and lamina) of 11 selected species bearing essential oils (EOs) by using the light microscope (LM), and to identify EO constituents in their aerial parts using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), for taxonomic delimitation among these species. The essential oils of the species with the highest EO yield were tested in-vitro against a human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG 2) cell line.ResultsThe macro- and micromorphological characters of the stem and lamina were recorded. From these characters trichomes, ground system, and vascular bundles were diagnostic at the species level. GC-MS analysis detected the existence of 160 constituents prevailed by monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes classes in all species under investigation except in Citharexylum spinosum L. A, monoterpenes (2.19%) and sesquiterpenes (0.3%). In-vitro bioassay of EO against HepG 2 revealed a significant effect, as evidenced by the IC50 values being 58.9, 48.3, 36.7 and 34.5 µg/mL for Mentha spicata L., Salvia microphylla Kunth., Lantana camara L. and Ocimum labiatum (N.E.Br.) A.J. Paton respectively.ConclusionsThis work revealed that Lamiaceae and Verbenaceae families are closely related, showing fluctuation in the mutual morpho-anatomical characteristics of the studied species, however, EO analysis showed variation among these species.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-026-08910-2.

Abstract This work introduces a solvent-sparing platform for chemical purification that challenges conventional energy-intensive separation methods by exploiting the “wireless” nature of Bipolar Electrochemistry (BE). We present a miniaturized device based on inherently chiral oligo-modified polypyrrole (Ppy) hollow tubes that functions as an ultra-precise, electrochemically-driven pump for complex matrices. The system is actuated wirelessly via an external electric field, inducing asymmetric polarization across the conductive polymer interface and eliminating the need for direct electrical connections. We exploit the inherent chiral affinity of the solid-state polymer interface, quantified by substantial Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) potential differentials (up to 220 mV), as an electrochemical switch to control kinetic selectivity. Crucially, atomistic modeling (DFT/MD) validates this mechanism, revealing that the separation is driven by a differential Gibbs Free Energy of Adsorption (ΔΔG ads ) of 21.2 kJ/mol, which significantly suppresses the effective diffusion coefficient ( D eff ) of the favored enantiomer within the polymer matrix. When applied to the direct purification of neat spearmint oil, this wireless electro-pumping achieved high enrichment of key monoterpenoids ((-)-carvone and (-)-limonene) up to 90% relative purity, while preserving high enantiomeric excess (ee > 90%). This study provides a robust proof-of-concept for integrating computational design with wireless electrochemical actuation for sustainable downstream processing.

In this study, we investigated the antifungal potential of methanolic extracts and essential oils obtained from five medicinal plants (Salvadora persica, Mentha spicata, Achillea millefolium, Matricaria chamomilla, and Zingiber officinale) against 25 clinical isolates of Candida albicans collected from patients with denture stomatitis. Antifungal susceptibility was assessed using broth microdilution as the primary method, with agar diffusion assays performed to provide complementary visual confirmation. Nystatin was included as a reference control. Across the tested samples, essential oils consistently showed stronger antifungal effects than the corresponding methanolic extracts. Notably, Z. officinale essential oil exhibited the highest level of activity, inhibiting 15 out of 25 isolates and, in several cases, demonstrating efficacy comparable to or exceeding that of nystatin. Chemical profiling by GC–MS indicated that the ginger essential oil was dominated by sesquiterpene and monoterpene hydrocarbons, with zingiberene (21.49%) being the major constituent, followed by β-sesquiphellandrene, α-curcumene, sabinene, and α-citral. This terpene-rich composition may contribute to the observed antifungal activity, potentially through the disruption of fungal cell membrane integrity. Taken together, these results suggest that Z. officinale essential oil represents a promising natural antifungal candidate for the management of denture-associated C. albicans infections. Further studies, including biofilm-based assays and in vivo evaluations, will be necessary to confirm its clinical applicability. To the best of our knowledge, this study is among the first to comparatively assess these five medicinal plants against clinical C. albicans isolates derived specifically from denture stomatitis patients.

Mosquito is one of the threatened insect pests. It acts as a vector of various diseases like malaria, dengue, filaria, chikungunya, etc. It breeds well in water with organic matter. Thus, a study was made to enquire the actual safe breeding place of this insect. It is proved that most of the mosquitoes (54%) breed well in septic tank water of sanitary latrine. Adult enters the septic tank through outlet pipe and completed the life cycle safely and emerged out either through water outlet or gas pipe. In this paper, a simple technological alteration was devised with normal sanitary latrine i.e. outlet pipe of the septic tank was made U-shaped instead of straight, so that U-shaped tube always holds some running water to prevent the entry of adult gravid female mosquito. The top of the gas pipe is also netted properly with rust proof net. About (17%) mosquitoes breed in the stagnant water of discarded earthen vessels and coconut shell. In this project paper discarded coconut shell and earthen vessels were reused to produce saplings instead of plastic bags in agricultural nursery and others. Mixture of Pudina (Mentha spicata) and neem (Azadirachta indica) herbal eco-friendly mosquito repellent sticks, spray and pudina oil were also effectively used to combat adult mosquito and its larvae. Thus, an integrated mosquito population management was attempted in a local area of Berhampore town (24.09° N, 88.26° E) also to reduce the use of plastic bags to produce sapling in nursery and others.

Cytotoxicity effects induced by silver and 4-chlorochalcone nanoparticles synthesized using Mentha spicata L. on breast cancer MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 cell lines and healthy MRC-5 fibroblasts

Efficacy of cold plasma and pulsed UV-light against Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 on fresh basil leaves.

Experimental and computational investigation of Mentha spicata extract as a green corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel

This study aims to document traditional knowledge related to medicinal plants used by local communities in the Relizane Province of Northwestern Algeria, with the dual objective of preserving cultural heritage and supporting the sustainable use and pharmacological potential of these resources. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in seven regions of Relizane, engaging 210 local informants. A total of 70 medicinal plant species, belonging to 32 families, were identified. The most frequently cited families were Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, and Asteraceae, with Thymus vulgaris, Matricaria chamomilla, and Mentha spicata emerging as the most commonly used species. Data were analyzed using ethnobotanical indices such as Use Value (UV) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). Thymus vulgaris had the highest UV (0.080), while the highest ICF values were observed for respiratory (0.80) and digestive disorders (0.72), indicating a high level of agreement among informants. In contrast, reproductive health exhibited the lowest ICF (0.25). Bangladesh J. Bot. 55(1): 77-84, 2026 (March)

Background: Hyperlipidemia (HL) constitutes a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This lipid disorder has become a primary focus for researchers because of its high prevalence worldwide, prompting increased efforts to discover new treatment options originating from natural alternatives to synthetic medications that can have serious adverse effects. Ethnopharmacological and ethnobotanical approaches have played a key role in documenting and identifying medicinal and aromatic plants. This survey aims to document Algerian medicinal plants (MPs) reported by local populations in the Ghardaïa region (Southern Algeria) as effective for the management of HL. Methods: The survey was conducted from February 2023 to February 2024. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 184 participants and analyzed using Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV), and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). Additionally, for each identified plant species, ethnobotanical characteristics were documented, including the plant parts used and preparation methods. Results: The investigation documented 48 species distributed across 28 families, with Lamiaceae and Apiaceae emerging as the dominant families. Additionally, several plants were documented for the first time in the management of HL, including Pituranthos chlorantus (Coss. and Dur.), Echinops spinosus L., and Fagonia glutinosa Del. Aerial parts were the most frequently used (30%), while infusion was the predominant preparation technique (40%). Quantitative analysis identified the species with the highest UVs as Pituranthos chlorantus (1.75), Mentha spicata L. (1.50), and Moringa oleifera Lam. (1.42). However, the highest Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) values were for Citrus limon L. (RFC = 0.86), Pituranthos chlorantus, Solanum melongena L., Olea europaea L., and Camellia sinensis L. (each with RFC = 0.652). The highest agreement of diseases was hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia (ICF = 0.98), followed by obesity and hypertension (ICF = 0.97). Conclusions: The documented medicinal flora provides valuable baseline data for researchers working in phytotherapy for cardiovascular diseases, obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. These species represent promising sources of novel bioactive compounds that may be developed into therapeutic agents. Keywords: Medicinal plants, traditional medicine, Hyperlipidemia, Ghardaia, Algeria

Reducing enteric methane emissions from ruminants has emerged as a critical environmental priority in the face of global climate change, given the substantial contribution of methane to agricultural greenhouse gas outputs. This study evaluated the potential of spearmint essential oil (SEO) to reduce methane production and enhance energy utilization efficiency using an in vitro rumen fermentation system. The experiment comprised a control (CON, no additive), three SEO doses (L-SEO: 100 mg/L; M-SEO: 200 mg/L; H-SEO: 400 mg/L), and a commercial essential oil blend (AGL: 150 mg/L). Results indicated that M-SEO and H-SEO significantly reduced methane production at 24 h from 58.11 mL/g DM in CON to 47.93 and 46.58 mL/g DM, respectively (p < 0.001), corresponding to reductions of 17.5% and 19.8%. Furthermore, M-SEO increased total volatile fatty acid concentration from 48.41 to 58.10 mmol/L and elevated the molar proportion of propionate, while significantly enhancing microbial crude protein production (p < 0.001). Microbial community analysis revealed that M-SEO increased bacterial alpha-diversity (Shannon index) (p = 0.001) and significantly enriched specific functional guilds, particularly the propionate-producing genus Succiniclasticum and the butyrate-producing genus Butyrivibrio. Interestingly, the abundance of dominant methanogens (Methanobrevibacter) was not reduced, suggesting a metabolic inhibition mechanism rather than a biocidal effect. Functional prediction analysis further supported this, indicating a downregulation of pathways associated with methanogenesis, including key enzymes such as methyl-coenzyme M reductase. In conclusion, SEO supplementation at 200 mg/L effectively reduced methane production by redirecting metabolic hydrogen toward propionate formation, without affecting overall fermentation. Therefore, the current study indicated that SEO could serve as a sustainable feed additive for mitigating enteric methane emissions in ruminants.

Background/Objectives: Wound healing is a complex biological process involving inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. Plant-derived essential oils are increasingly investigated as topical therapeutic agents, although their biological effects are strongly influenced by composition and formulation. The present study evaluated the effects of topical Mentha spicata essential oil on cutaneous wound healing in a rat excisional wound model and explored potential molecular mechanisms using a network-based bioinformatic approach. Methods: Twenty-one male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups and treated twice daily for 14 days with a formulation containing 5% Mentha spicata essential oil diluted in olive oil, olive oil alone, or no treatment. Wound healing was assessed through macroscopic monitoring and histological scoring. The chemical composition of the essential oil was characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Predicted molecular targets of the major monoterpenes were analyzed through protein interaction networks and pathway enrichment analysis. Results: Macroscopic wound closure progressed in all groups by day 14. Histological analysis revealed that the olive oil group showed more advanced collagen deposition, re-epithelialization, and granulation tissue maturation, whereas the Mentha spicata group displayed a more pronounced inflammatory and proliferative histological pattern. Network-based analysis highlighted signaling pathways related to receptor-mediated cellular responses as potential molecular mechanisms associated with early inflammatory and proliferative processes. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the biological effects of Mentha spicata essential oil in wound repair may be phase-dependent and influenced by concentration and formulation. The results support further studies aimed at optimizing dose and delivery strategies for essential oil-based wound therapies.

Inflammation is a key factor in the development of many chronic diseases, and the search for safer, plant-based anti-inflammatory agents remains important. This study investigated the synergistic in-vitro anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet potential of the combined ethanol leaf extract of Ficuscapensis and Mentha spicata, alongside its phytochemical compositions. Phytochemical screening showed that the combined extract is rich in phenolics and flavonoids, with moderate levels of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, and steroids, and trace amounts of glycosides. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) induced haemolysis, hypotonic solution induced human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization, and platelet aggregation assays. The extract significantly (P &lt;.001) reduced haemoglobin release caused by PLA₂, demonstrating a concentration-dependent effect with a maximum inhibition of 89.4% at 1.0 µg/ml. It also protected red blood cells against hypotonic-induced lysis, showing inhibition values comparable to diclofenac. In addition, the extract significantly (P &lt;.001) decreased platelet aggregation, with the highest inhibition (80.3%) observed at the highest concentration tested. These findings imply that the combined extract exerts its protective effects through membrane stabilization, inhibition of inflammatory enzymes, and antioxidant activity linked to its rich phytochemical constituents. This study addresses an important research gap by evaluating the synergistic activity of the combined extracts rather than assessing each plant individually. By addressing the limited scientific evidence on their synergistic action, this research supports the traditional use of plant combinations and highlights their potential as natural alternatives for managing inflammation. Further in-vivo and structural elucidation studies are recommended to confirm these promising results.

Effects of quinolone antibiotics on spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) cuttings: Insights into growth, biological activity, and computational modeling perspectives

The photon spectrum (light quality) can regulate growth and quality characteristics of young plants, but responses of culinary herb transplants are not well described. Blue light (400 to 499 nm) generally inhibits extension growth while far-red radiation (700 to 750 nm) promotes stem elongation and leaf expansion. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential interaction between blue light and far-red radiation on six culinary herb species, basil ( Ocimum basilicum ), cilantro ( Coriandrum sativum ), parsley ( Petroselinum crispum ), sage ( Salvia officinalis ), mint ( Mentha spicata ), and oregano ( Oreganum vulgare ), with the goal of producing high-quality transplants with compact growth. Six sole-source lighting treatments were tested with blue photon flux densities (PFDs) of 20, 60, or 100 µmol·m −2 ·s −1 and far-red radiation of 0 or 60 µmol·m −2 ·s −1 , with red light (600 to 699 nm) added so that the total PFD was 210 µmol·m −2 ·s −1 in all treatments. Seeds were sown in 72-cell trays at a constant 23 °C under a 16-h photoperiod and grown for 28 to 44 days until harvest. Far-red radiation increased stem length in all species, while blue light up to 60 µmol·m −2 ·s −1 inhibited stem elongation. Interestingly, the promotive effects of far-red radiation on stem length increased as the B PFD increased in basil and cilantro, but the opposite occurred in sage. In all herbs except oregano, far-red radiation decreased the root dry-mass fraction and increased the leaf area ratio. Blue light generally decreased shoot dry mass, while far-red radiation had the opposite effect. However, by increasing shoot growth disproportionally to root growth, far-red radiation decreased the quality of the transplants. We conclude that blue light and far-red radiation interact, sometimes in contrasting ways across species, to regulate stem length, leaf area, and biomass accumulation. The species-specific responses to the photon spectrum indicate that while far-red radiation is generally a growth promoter, it can negatively affect transplant quality, and in some species, its effect depends on the B PFD.

Species of the genus Mentha are valued for their aroma and bioactivity. This study presents a comprehensive 3-year (2022-2024) evaluation of two Mentha spicata and three Mentha×piperita genotypes. Methanolic extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity (AA) using spectrophotometry; individual phenolic compounds were determined by HPLC-DAD, and essential oils (EOs) were characterized by GC-MS. Significant inter- and intra-species variability was observed. M.×piperita showed higher phytochemical levels (TPC: 33.61-55.23mg GAE/g DW; TFC: 27.56-43.01mg CE/g DW; and AA: 46.48-103.93mg TE/g DW) than M. spicata (TPC: 28.92-39.57mg GAE/g DW; TFC: 23.48-35.11mg CE/g DW; and AA: 40.09-93.59mg TE/g DW). Rosmarinic acid predominated in all samples (6227.11 to 29321.70µg/g DW), with elevated levels observed in M.×piperita. EO yields ranged from 0.55% to 2.31% (v/w), with carvone dominant in M. spicata and menthone, dl-menthol, or piperitenone oxide in M.×piperita. Principal component analysis confirmed distinct chemical differentiation among genotypes. Genotype had a strong, and year a moderate, effect on phytochemical profiles. These results highlight the species-specific potential of Mentha for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications.

Improving Tomato Salinity Tolerance with Copper Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Mentha spicata Extract: Physiological and Gene Expression Analysis

The effect of the essential oil of Mentha spicata leaves on the growth of Microsporum gypseum in vitro was evaluated. We worked with the vegetable from the agricultural crops of Pedregal, Simbal District, Trujillo Province, La Libertad; obtainingthe essential oil was carried out using the hydrodistillation method in Clevenger equipment. To evaluate its effect, the technique of incorporating the essential oilinto the Sabouraud Dextrose Agar culture medium was used, adding the appropriate amount until obtaining concentrations of 400, 500, 600 and 700 μg/mL and the culture medium as a negative control. A fragment of M. gypseum mycelium was planted by central puncture and incubated at 25°C for a week; readings of radial growth weremade in millimeters of diameter. The average radial growth of the treatment and the negative control obtained on the seventh day of incubation were 4.36 and 2.45 mm for 400 and 500 μg/mL, respectively; at 600 and 700 μg/mL there was no growth andfor the negative control it was 26.65 mm. It is concluded that the essential oil at the concentrations evaluated inhibits the growth of M. gypseum, in direct proportion tothe concentration, that is, the higher the concentration, the greater the inhibition of radial growth; from 600 μg/mL, fungal growth is completely inhibited. Resulting in a promising alternative for the treatment against these pathogens due to its bioactive components.