Mint Leaf Extract Research Articles

Toksisitas Daun Mint (Mentha arvensis) Terhadap Larva Udang (Artemia salina Leach)

Medicinal plant are part of the flora that grows and is widespread in Indonesia, one of which is mint (Mentha arvensis). Mint plant is an aromatic herbaceous plant that is widely used for air freshener, as a food garnish, and medicine. However, few studies have tested the toxicity of mint leaves. To achieve safe treatment, many studies have been carried out in pharmacological and toxicity testing of medicinal plants. The toxicity test of these medicinal plants uses the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) method after 24 hours of exposure to the sample being tested. This study aimed to determine the toxicity of mint leaves (Mentha arvensis) to shrimp larvae (Artemia salina Leach). Mint leaf extract was obtained from a 24-hour maceration extraction process using 96% ethanol as a solvent. Toxicity test were carried out using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) method with a concentration of 1 ppm, 2 ppm, 3 ppm, 4 ppm ad 5 ppm. The percentage of deaths of shrimp larvae was calculated and calculation of LC50 value using Probit analysis. The LC50 value was obtained 3,5223 ppm and its categorized as very toxic to shrimp larvae because LC50 < 30 ppm. It can be concluded that mint leaves (Mentha arvensis) can be used as a candidate to be developed as an anti-cancer drug.

In-Vitro antibacterial activity of glass ionomer cements containing silver nanoparticles synthesized from leaf extract of Mentha piperita

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of glass ionomer cement incorporated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthetized using mint leaf extract (Mentha piperita, M. piperita) on some oral cavity bacteria.Materials and methods: In the present study, M. piperita leaf extract was used for the synthesis of AgNPs. A total of 60 glass ionomer cement (GIC) disk-shaped specimens were prepared and divided into two groups: conventional GIC (C-GIC), and glass ionomer cement with 2 wt% AgNPs (GIC-AGNPs). The antibacterial activity of the GIC specimens in comparison with Ampicillin disk (10 µg/ml) was investigated against Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Streptococcus aureus by measuring the diameter of growth inhibition zones.Results: C-GIC specimens failed to show any antibacterial effect against the studied bacteria. However, the GIC-AgNPs had relatively significant antibacterial effects on S. mutans, L. acidophilus, L. casei and S. aureus. The highest antibacterial effect of GIC-AgNPs specimens was reported against L. acidophilus (P <0.001). GIC-AgNPs had no antibacterial effect on E. faecalis.Conclusion: Glass ionomer cement incorporated with AgNPs synthetized using M. piperita showed a promising antibacterial effect against oral cariogenic pathogens.

Efficacy of plant-based natural preservatives in extending shelf life of sugarcane juice: Formulation optimization by MOGA and correlation study by principal component analysis

Sugarcane juice spoils quickly as a result of microbial contamination and enzymatic reactions. To maintain its quality during storage, synthetic preservatives are generally employed. However, their use has been linked to potential health hazards. In this regard, some plant based natural preservatives can be utilized as safe alternatives. Lemon juice (LJ), basil leaf extract (BE), mint leaf extract (ME), and lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) were used in this study. LJ, BE and ME were varied from 2 to 8% (v/v) and LGEO was ranged between 1 and 3% (v/v). The concentrations of these natural preservatives were optimized by multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) based on contrasting goals of maximizing soluble solids, phenolic content (PhC) and sensory acceptability score while minimizing pH, polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activity and bacterial count. The LGEO followed by LJ inhibited the microorganisms and oxidative enzymes at an appreciable level and ME was the least effective among all. At the same time, LJ offered more preferable sensory scores than others. The optimized concentration suggested by MOGA was 6.84% LJ and 1.05% LGEO which resulted in 10.3% rise in PhC, 49.3% PPO inactivation, 2 log cycle bacterial reduction and 3.5% sensory improvement in the raw juice. The changes in quality parameters during storage and correlations among them were effectively illustrated by principal component analysis. It was revealed from microbial safety analysis that sugarcane juice with storage stability of 26 days at 4 ºC could be prepared by addition of natural preservatives.

Influence of plant-based edible coatings on shelf-life of banana cv. ‘Ney Poovan’

Banana is known as deliciously of the tropics because of its wide availability, rich in nutrition, and low price. In India, banana stands first in production. But due to the non-availability of proper post-harvest facilities, it is prone to heavy post-harvest losses. The losses are very huge in the rural and tribal areas when compared to urban areas. To reduce the post-harvest losses and extend the shelf life of banana in rural and tribal areas, a study was carried out with locally available edible plant materials. The fruits were treated with corn starch (2%, 4% and 6%) and/or combination with the herbal extract i.e., Tulsi leaf extract (Ocimum sp), Mint leaf extract (Mentha sp), and Papaya leaf extract (Carica papaya) (2%, 4% and 6%, each). Various physio-chemical parameters were studied to determine the efficacy and influence of these herbal edible coatings on shelf life and quality of banana. The results revealed that corn starch 6% in combination with papaya leaf extract 6% and/or mint leaf extract (6%) was found effective in extending the shelf life of banana cv. ‘Ney Poovan’ up to 9 days. The combination effect of corn starch and papaya leaf extract and/or mint leaf extract reduced the PLW%, maintained higher Vit-C, lowered conversion of starch to sugars, and reduced spoilage.

Fluorescent Carbon Dots as Biosensor, Green Reductant, and Biomarker.

Carbon dots, the celebrated green material among the nanocarbon family, are blessed with several interesting features like biocompatibility, solubility, tunable luminescence, and so forth. Herein, carbon dots derived from Mint leaf extract (M-CDs) via a green method are exploited for versatile applications as a biosensor, reductant, and biomarker. M-CDs are applied for fluorimetric sensing of biologically relevant folic acid through quenching response originating from the inner filter effect, with a limit of detection of 280 nM. The carbon dots were highly selective toward folic acid in a collection of 16 biomolecules. The specificity of carbon dots toward folic acid is explained based on the interaction between the two. Along with sensing, herein, we project M-CDs as a green reducing agent by demonstrating the reduction of Fe(III) and noble metal nanoparticle synthesis from their salt solutions. The particles are found to be significantly non-cytotoxic, as evident from the MTT assay performed on primary H8 cells. The application of M-CDs in multicolor imaging is also illustrated using HeLa cells.

Impact of Evaporative cooling technology and Post-harvest treatments on shelf life and quality of tomato of two different harvesting stages (Solanum lycopersicum var. Pearson)

The Zero Energy Cool Chamber (ZECC) is the needed evaporative cooling system introduced as one of the economical small scale on-farm storage in Afghanistan for enhancing the shelf life of tomato and other fresh crops. Tomato is one of the highest value crops, and due to excellent flavor, higher juice, and pulp content of tomato fruits of “Pearson” variety makes it further valuable. Hence, this study aims to understand the effect of ZECC and postharvest treatments on shelf life and quality of tomato’s fruits harvested at turning and light red colors’ stages. Fruits were treated with different concentrations of CaCl2 and mint leaf extract solutions and kept in both ZECC and ambient storages. The shelf life of tomato fruits extended up to 29 days under T4 (turning color fruits + 6% CaCl2 + ZECC). Under the same treatment, the highest firmness as 840.0 grcm-2   and the lowest PLW, Decay Losses and TSS were recorded as 1.80%, 0.0% and 4.400 brix, respectively; on the 20th day of the storage. The lowest shelf life under T11 (Light red color fruits + distilled water dip + Ambient condition) was about 8 days. As a result, the ZECC as an evaporative cooling system significantly enhanced the shelf life and maintained the quality of tomato fruits harvested at the turning color stage treated with 6% CaCl2.

EFFECTIVENESS TEST OF ANTIBACTERIAL EXTRACT MINT LEAF (Mentha piperita L.) INHIBIT GROWTH IN Streptococcus sanguinis

Streptococcus sanguinis (s.sanguinis) is one of the normal flora in the oral cavity. These bacteria act as a pioneer in forming plaques that cause most dental and oral diseases. It takes an antibacterial agent to be able to inhibit the clips of the plaque. One of the herbal plants that have been known to have antibacterial power is the mint leaf (Mentha Piperita L.). The antibacterial potency of this plant comes from its chemical compound content, such as flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, and menthols. This study aimed to determine the inhibitory of mint leaf extract on the growth of Sanguinis. An experimental laboratory carries out research. Tests were carried out using the diffusion method in four test groups, namely mint leaf extract with a concentration of 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%, and one control group that uses DMSO. Each treatment group repeated five times on the Mueller-Hinton media (MHA) using disk paper and incubated for 24 hours. The inhibition zone can be seen in the transparent area formed around the disk paperand then measured using the Sorong term to find a large diameter. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The study results that the largest inhibitory zone diameter was obtained in a test group with a concentration of 10% (16.39 mm), while the lowest diameter in the control group (4.89 mm) 10% concentration was the highest among all test groups. The DMSO did not have an antibacterial effect. The higher the concentration of an antibacterial compound, it will also increase its effectiveness.

Copper nanoparticles: Green synthesis and managing fruit rot disease of chilli caused by Colletotrichum capsici.

The present study was focused on synthesis and characterization of copper nanoparticles to evaluate their efficacy against fruit rot pathogen of chilli crop. The green synthesis of nanoparticles was carried out by using extracts of Eucalyptus and Mint leaves. The synthesis of copper nanoparticles was confirmed by XRD, PSA, SEM and TEM. The average size of these particles synthesized by Eucalyptus leaf extract (CuNP-E) ranged from 10 to 130 nm, while as size of Mint leaf extract synthesized particles (CuNP-M) ranged from 23 to 39 nm, thus confirming their nano size. These green synthesized copper nanoparticles were evaluated against Colletotrichum capsici where Carbendazim 50 WP @ 500 ppm and copper oxychloride 50 WP @ 2500 ppm served as standard checks. The mycelia inhibition of Colletotrichum capsici caused by copper nanoparticles was studied on PDA medium. CuNP-M @ 1000 ppm showed highest mycelial inhibition of 99.78% followed by 93.75% at 500 ppm and CuNP-E @ 1000 ppm compared to standard fungicides, carbendazim 50 WP @ 500 ppm (72.82%), and copper oxychloride 50 WP @ 2500 ppm (85.85%). The CuNP-M @ 500 ppm were significantly superior to carbendazim 50 WP @ 500 ppm and copper oxychloride 50 WP @ 2500 ppm, but was statistically at par with CuNP-E @ 1000 ppm. This shows effectiveness of much lower concentration of copper nanoparticles compared to conventional fungicides. In detached fruit method, nanoparticles applied before inoculation of pathogen showed better results with regard to incubation period, lesion number and lesion size than after inoculation of pathogen. The present study reveals a simple, convenient, non-toxic and cost-efficient technique for the synthesis of nanoparticles and their effectiveness against Colletotrichum capsici. CuNP-M first time synthesized and evaluated against Colletotrichum capsici performed better than CuNP-E.

Phytochemicals and Vitamin Properties of Smoothie Flavoured with Mint Leaves Extract

This study was undertaken to assess the phytochemicals, vitamin A and vitamin C properties of different samples of smoothie produced from mixed tropical fruits flavoured with mint leaves extract. The smoothie was produced from three different fruits, (watermelon, apple and banana) then flavoured with mint leaf extract. The concentration of mint extract differs in each smoothie samples, ranging from 0-8% concentrate. The sample devoid of mint leaf extract served as control. The nine smoothie samples were examined for their phytochemical properties, vitamin A and vitamin C content. The study revealed that, the phytochemical content of different samples of smoothie gave these ranges: alkaloids (0.62-1.34%), saponin (1.07-1.46%), tannin (1.87-2.41%), phenol (0.02-0.41 mg/ml), flavonoid (1.62-3.33%), cyanogenic glycosides (0.00-0.05%). From the result, it was discovered that the phytochemical properties of the smoothie increases with increased mint leaf concentrate. The vitamins content of the samples ranges from; vitamin A (466-642 IU), vitamin C (9.30-10.83 mg/100 ml). The smoothie sample with high contents of mint extract are potentially good source of phytochemicals and vitamins.

Effect of harvesting stages and postharvest treatments on shelf life and quality of tomato (Lycoper-sicon esculentum Mill. var. Pearson) stored under ZECC condition

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is one of the important commercial high value crops of Afghanistan. Among the different local varieties grown in Afghanistan, the “Pearson” variety is most popular because of its good commercial value due to its uniform globe shape and medium to large size. The study is conducted to understand the effects of different harvesting stages and postharvest treatments on the shelf life and postharvest quality of tomatoes (Pearson variety) stored under the Pusa Zero Energy Cool Chamber (ZECC) at the research farm of Agriculture Faculty, Kabul University. This is the first time that ZECC is introduced in Afghanistan for enhancing fruit shelf life. The standard dimension ZECC was built with 165 x 115 x 67.6 cm dimensions. After harvesting tomatoes at different maturity stages (Turning, Pink, and Light red color stages), fruits were precooled, graded, and treated with different concentrations of CaCl2 and mint leaf extract solutions. Thereafter, the tomatoes were placed in plastic baskets and stored in the Zero Energy Cool Chamber. During storage period, Total Soluble Solids (TSS, 0brix), pH, firmness (gr cm-2), shelf life, pericarp thickness (mm), fruit volume (cc), and fruit density were recorded. Two factorial CRD design was considered with harvesting stages as the first factor and postharvest treatments as the second factor. The data revealed that the shelf life of tomatoes was extended up to 29 days under T2 (turning color fruits treated with 6% CaCl2) and followed by T8 (turning color fruits treated with 6% CaCl2 + 6% mint ...

Biosynthesis of CuO nanoparticles and synergistic antibacterial activity using mint leaf extract

ABSTRACTThis study describes the hydrothermal synthesis of cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Mint extract agent. A mixture of 0.1 M copper nitrate and a mint extract was hydrothermally treated at a temperature of 180 °C for two hours. Meanwhile, the Mint leaf extract had reduced the copper ions of the nanoparticles after five minutes, resulting in dark-green precipitation. The structural and optical properties of the nanoparticles were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The nanoparticles showed a simple cubic structure with a crystallite size range of 22 nm ‒ 25 nm. According to the UV-Vis spectrum, an absorption peak was observed at 346 nm. The antibacterial activity was checked against Escherichia coli (E-coli) and Bacillus subtilis (B-subtilis) cultures by which the inhibition zones were found to be 35 mm and 38 mm, respectively. It is concluded that the CuO NPs have a good ability to resist microbes.

In vitro Antifungal Activity of Methanolic and Chloroform Mint Leaves (Mentha piperita L.) Extracts Against Candida albicans

Oral health is an important thing that must be prioritized because the entire intake is first processed in the mouth. The most common disease found in the oral cavity is candidiasis, caused by Candida albicans which is an opportunistic intraoral pathogen that inhabits the oral cavity. Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) is one of the herbal plants which has proven in laboratory scale have antifungal activity. This research aimed to know the antifungal activity of methanolic and chloroform extract of M. Piperita L. leaves against C. albicans. Mint leaf extract was obtained by maceration method using methanol and chloroform as solvents. The extract concentration for antifungal activity test were 40%; 60% and 80% w/v solution in DMSO 100%. The Kirby-Bauer method was used to examine the antifungal activity of both extracts. The results showed that both methanolic and chloroform extract has antifungal activity against C. albicans. The antifungal of methanolic better than the chloroform extract. Both extracts at all concentration showed a greater antifungal activity compared to 25.000 μg ketoconazole as a positive control. The best antifungal activity of methanolic mint leaves extracts found at 80% concentration. It is no different in antifungal activity of chloroform mint leaves extract at all concentration tested.

Enhanced degradation of indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene using Candida tropicalis NN4 in presence of iron nanoparticles and produced biosurfactant: a statistical approach.

Seven yeast isolates were screened for the remediation of indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene (InP) using biosynthesized iron nanoparticles and produced biosurfactant in growth medium. Four yeast isolates showed positive response to produce biosurfactant which was confirmed by drop collapse test, emulsification index, methylene blue agar plate method, oil displacement test and lipase activity. The yeast strain showing maximum potential for InP degradation and biosurfactant production was identified as Candida tropicalis NN4. The produced biosurfactant was characterized as sophorolipid type through TLC and FTIR analysis. Iron nanoparticles were biosynthesized using mint leaf extract and characterized by various instrumental analysis. Response surface methodology (RSM), three-level five-variable Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize the factors, viz., pH (7), temperature (30°C), salt concentration (1.5gL-1), incubation time (15days) and iron nanoparticles concentration (0.02gL-1) for maximum InP degradation (90.68 ± 0.7%) using C. tropicalis NN4. It was well in close agreement with the predicted value which was obtained by RSM model (90.68 ± 0.4%) indicating the validity of the model. InP degradation was confirmed through FTIR and GC-MS analysis. A kinetic study demonstrated that InP degradation fitted first-order kinetic model. This is the first report on yeast-mediated nanobioremediation of InP and optimization of the whole process using RSM.

Perbedaan Mual dan Muntah Ibu Hamil Trimester I yang Diberikan Ekstrak Jahe dan Ekstrak Daun Mint

<p>Study of literature with meta-analysis was obtained 7 out of 10 women around the world to experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, with an average incidence of 69.4% (66.5-72.3%, CI 95%). The purpose of research to find out the difference of nausea and vomiting of pregnant women through assessment scale Rhodes after administration of ginger extract and mint leaf extract in Inpatient Health Center Bandar Lampung in 2016. The target of research is the discovery of alternative therapy/food in the community to reduce nausea and vomiting of pregnant women. Type of research is quantitative research, design experimental research. The study population is the entire first-trimester pregnant women who visit health centers Inpatient Bandar Lampung, with 10 (ten) PHC hospitalization. The total sample was 102, the group treated with the extract of ginger were 34 respondents, a group treated extract of mint leaves were 34 respondents, and the group without treatment who received standard procedures health centers (Vitamin B6) were 34 respondents, with the criteria of pregnant women the first trimester without GI disease. The results of the study there were significant differences between the measurement value of nausea and vomiting before and after administration of ginger extract, extract of mint and a control group with p = 0.001 in the extract of ginger, p=0.000 in the extract mint, and p=0.001 in the control group with (standard treatment of health centers with vitamin B6). There were no differences between mean nausea and vomiting in the first trimester pregnant women who received ginger extract and mint with a p=0.548, ginger extract and control groups with p=0.807, mint extract and control groups with p=0,407 ginger and mint can be an alternative therapy to reduce vomiting and nausea of pregnant woman in trimester I. Advanced research about the composition, dosage and side effects of ginger and mint benefit to the problem of gastrointestinal disorders who experience nausea and vomiting.</p>

In vitro regulation of enzymatic release of glucose and its uptake by Fenugreek microgreen and Mint leaf extract

SummaryFenugreek microgreen and mint leaf displayed antidiabetic potential during in vitro assays including cell line‐based analysis. Aqueous fenugreek microgreen extract (FME) (2 mg mL−1) inhibited α‐amylase by 70%. It also enhanced glucose uptake in L6 cells by 25% at 10 mg mL−1 which further improved to 44% in the presence of insulin. On the other hand, fresh mint leaf extract (MLE) inhibited α‐glucosidase up to 90% and increased glucose uptake by 15% in HepG2 cells. Besides, both these extracts also inhibited nonenzymatic glycation of protein. FME and MLE were also found to have high levels of total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidants which could play a possible role in the observed antidiabetic activity. As blood glucose levels in diabetes can be regulated by inhibition of enzymes regulating carbohydrate metabolism and improving glucose uptake in cells, the findings indicate a complimentary therapeutic role of these two dietary herbs in diabetes.

Green synthesis of tea Ag nanocomposite hydrogels via mint leaf extraction for effective antibacterial activity

In this report, we investigated the swelling behavior and antibacterial property of nanosilver composite hydrogels made from tea with polyacrylamide via a free-radical polymerization and green process technique. This is probably for the first time; tea-based nano silver composite hydrogels were developed. The composite hydrogels comprise embedded nano silver particles in the tea hydrogel matrix via a green process with mint leaf extract. The size of the nano silver particles in the hydrogel matrix was found to be < 10 nm. The nano silver composite hydrogels formed and their blank hydrogels from the mint leaf were characterized by using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction studies. The nano silver composite hydrogels developed exhibit eminent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This clearly indicates that the nano silver composite hydrogels are potential candidates for antimicrobial applications.

Effects of Cumin (Cuminum Cyminum L.) Seed and Wild Mint (Mentha Longifolia L.) Leaf Extracts on the Shelf Life and Quality of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Fillets Stored at 4C ± 1

AbstractThe effects of Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seed and Wild mint (Mentha longifolia L.) leaf extracts on microbiological, chemical and sensory changes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets stored at 4C ± 1 were investigated. The results showed that lipid oxidation and spoilage of the samples were significantly delayed in samples treated with a plant extract in comparison with the controls (P &lt; 0.05). The psychrophilic bacterial counts and total viable count values were above the acceptability limit (7 log10 colony‐forming unit/g) by the 6, 12, 15, 12 and 18th day of storage for the control: Cumin (3.0 %), Cumin (6.0 %), Wild mint (3.0 %) and Wild mint (6.0 %) treatments, respectively. The application of 6.0 % Wild mint leaf extract gave the best antioxidative and antimicrobial activities, as well as sensory scores, up to 18 days of storage. Sensory analysis results showed the treatment with a Wild mint extract had high quality and improved the beneficial effects on sensory properties. This research demonstrated that the Cumin and Wild mint extracts had significant effects on shelf‐life extension of fresh rainbow trout up to 12–18 days at refrigerated storage conditions and could be applied as natural preservatives for extending shelf life of fish products.Practical ApplicationsConsumer's awareness of well‐being and the demand for healthy and natural food products have caused much attention on using natural extract as preservative in food products. In this work, we investigated the effects of two natural extracts from Cumin Seed and Wild mint leaf on the quality of fish product, including chemical, microbiological and sensory qualities during refrigerated storage. To our knowledge, the application of Cumin Seed and Wild mint leaf extracts to extend the shelf life of fish product has not been studied previously.

Efficacy of mint (Mentha arvensis) leaf and citrus (Citrus aurantium) peel extracts as natural preservatives for shelf life extension of chill stored Indian mackerel.

Efficacy of mint (Mentha arvensis) leaf and citrus (Citrus aurantium) peel extracts in retarding the quality changes in Indian mackerel during chilled storage was investigated. Mint leaf extract showed higher quantity of phenolics and superior in-vitro antioxidant activities than citrus peel extract. Gutted mackerel were given a dip treatment in mint extract (0.5%, w/v) and citrus extract (1%w/v), packed in LDPE pouches and stored at 0-2°C. The biochemical quality indices viz. total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N), free fattyacids (FFA) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in mint extract (ME) treated fishes compared to citrus extract (CE) treated and control fishes (C) without any treatment. Plant extract treatment significantly inhibited lipid oxidation in mackerel as indicated by peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Aerobic plate count (APC) was markedly higher in C group followed by CE group throughout the storage period. As per sensory evaluation, shelf life of Indian mackerel was determined to be 11-13days for C group, 13-15days for CE group and 16-17days for ME group, during storage at 0-2°C.

Development of microbial resistant Carbopol nanocomposite hydrogels via a green process.

The present scientific research resulted in the development of novel microbial resistant inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels, which can be used as antibacterial agents. They are promising candidates for advanced antimicrobial applications in the field of biomedical science. Novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels were developed from Carbopol® 980 NF and acrylamide. Dual-metallic (Ag0-Au0) nanoparticles were prepared (via a green process) by the nucleation of silver and gold salts with mint leaf extract to form a hydrogel network. The Carbopol nanocomposite hydrogels contain (Ag0-Au0) nanoparticles ∼5 ± 3 nm in size, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The developed hydrogels were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The pure and inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels developed were tested against Bacillus and E. coli, for their antibacterial properties. The results indicate that the inorganic nanocomposites show significantly greater antimicrobial activity than the pure hydrogels. Therefore, novel microbial resistant Carbopol nanocomposite hydrogels can be used as potential candidates for antibacterial applications.

Fertility Suppression of the Male Mouse after Administration of Mint Leaf Extract

The antifertility effect of an aqueous extract of mint (Mentha arvensis ) leaves was observed on male albino mice after administration of 10, 5 and 2 mg of the extract every alternate day for 20 days. At the tried experimental protocol, a dose related decrease in the reproductive organ weights was recorded. A marked alteration in the phosphatase content in the reproductive organs was also obtained. While the acid phosphatase mean level recorded a marked decrease, the alkaline phosphatase content of the reproductive organs exhibited a statistically significant increase. Mating performance and libido of the males treated with the mint leaf extract at all the three tried doses was not altered but mating with fertile proestrus females proved to be sterile in each case.