Structure Elucidation and Toxicity Analysis of the Byproducts Formed after Biodegradation of Aflatoxins B1 and B2 Using Extracts of Mentha arvensis

The aqueous extracts of leaves and shoots of Mentha arvensis were checked for their potential to biodegrade aflatoxin B1 and B2 (AFB1; 100 µg/L and AFB2; 50 µg/L) through in vitro assays. Overall, the results showed that leaf extract degrades aflatoxins more efficiently than the shoot extract. First, the pH, temperature and incubation time were optimized for maximum degradation by observing this activity at different temperatures between 25 and 60 °C, pH between 2 and 10 and incubation time from 3 to 72 h. In general, an increase in all these parameters significantly increased the percentage of biodegradation. In vitro trials on mature maize stock were performed under optimized conditions, i.e., pH 8, temperature 30 °C and an incubation period of 72 h. The leaf extract resulted in 75% and 80% biodegradation of AFB1 and AFB2, respectively. Whereas the shoot extract degraded both toxins up to 40–48%. The structural elucidation of degraded toxin products by LCMS/MS analysis showed seven degraded products of AFB1 and three of AFB2. MS/MS spectra showed that most of the products were formed by the loss of the methoxy group from the side chain of the benzene ring, the removal of the double bond in the terminal furan ring and the modification of the lactone group, indicating less toxicity compared to the parent compounds. The degraded products showed low toxicity against brine shrimps, confirming that M. arvensis leaf extract has significant potential to biodegrade aflatoxins.

Thrombolytic effect of Siddha herbal formulation Sikkanjar Manapagu using in-Silico model

Background: Thromboembolic disorders are one of the important causes leading to death. In the Siddha system of medicine, many drugs have been mentioned in the literature and their thrombolytic potential needs to be scientifically evaluated. Aim: The study aims to perform the In Silico computational studies of Phytoconstituents of Siddha formulation Sikkanjar Manapagu (SM) to evaluate its thrombolytic potential. Methods: Autodock program was used for the molecular docking studies of the retrieved phytoconstituents such as Zingiberene, Gingerenone-A, 6 Gingerol of Zingiber officinale, Menthol, Luteolin, Citronellol of Mentha arvensis, Eugenol, Limonene, Myrcene, and Linalool of Citrus aurantium against target protein Human Plasminogen Activation Loop Peptide - PDB 4DCB. Results: A total of ten compounds were screened, of these Zingiberene, Menthol, Citronellol, Eugenol, Limonene, Myrcene, and Linalool showed high binding against active amino acid residue 195. Conclusion: Based on further experiments and clinical trials, the formulation Sikkanjar Manapagu could be proved to be effective in thrombolytic treatment.

Mentha arvensis Essential Oil Exerts Anti-Inflammatory in LPS-Stimulated Inflammatory Responses via Inhibition of ERK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Anti-Atopic Dermatitis-like Effects in 2,4-Dinitrochlorobezene-Induced BALB/c Mice

The mechanism of atopic dermatitis (AD) is modulated by the release of cytokines and chemokines through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Topical steroids are used to treat AD, but some people need safer anti-inflammatory drugs to avoid side effects. Mentha arvensis has been used as a herbal plant with medicinal properties, but its anti-inflammatory effects have not been elucidated in an AD model. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of M. arvensis essential oil (MAEO) and its underlying molecular mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and HaCaT cells (human epidermal keratinocyte). Additionally, we examined the ameliorating effects of the MAEO in a dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced murine model of AD. We found, in both RAW 264.7 cells and HaCaT cells, MAEO inhibited LPS-stimulated inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 and proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-6, due to the suppression of COX-2 and iNOS expression. In LPS-stimulated macrophages, we also observed that MAEO inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and P65. Furthermore, MAEO treatment attenuated AD symptoms, including the dermatitis score, ear thickness, epidermal thickness and infiltration of mast cells, in a DNCB-induced animal model of AD. Overall, our findings suggest that MAEO exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-atopic dermatitis effects via inhibition of the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

ATIVIDADE ANTIBACTERIANA DOS ÓLEOS ESSENCIAIS DE HORTELÃ PIMENTA (Mentha piperita), HORTELÃ JAPONESA (Mentha arvensis) e MANJERICÃO (Ocimum basilicum) FRENTE A CEPAS ATCC DE Salmonella enterica e Staphylococcus aureus

Introdução: Os óleos essenciais possuem diversas atividades farmacológicas, destacando sua ação antibacteriana, antifúngica, anti-inflamatória e analgésica. O seu uso como terapia alternativa, tem evoluído muito ao longo dos anos. Objetivo: Determinar a atividade antibacteriana dos óleos essenciais de Ocimum basilicum (Manjericão), Mentha piperita (Hortelã pimenta) e Mentha arvensis (Hortelã japonesa) sobre cepas bacterianas ATCC de Staphylococcus aureus e Salmonella enterica. Materiais e métodos: A atividade antibacteriana foi determinada através da técnica de difusão de discos de papel em ágar, utilizando concentrações puras e diluídas dos óleos essenciais. Resultados: A cepa de Staphylococcus aureus se mostrou sensível somente ao óleo de Ocimum basilicum puro, enquanto a Salmonella entérica apresentou sensibilidade a todos os óleos essenciais, com exceção do Ocimum basilicum diluído. Conclusão: A Salmonella enterica apresentou maior sensibilidade aos óleos testados, enquanto os Staphylococcus aureus só foram sensíveis Ocimum basilicum puro, provavelmente devido a algum componente encontrado nesse óleo, que possui efeito somente em grande quantidade.

Phytochemical Evaluation of Mentha Species including Antioxidant Activity

Mentha arvensis is a belonging to the family of Lamiaceae; Wild mint is often used as a domestic herbal remedy, being valued especially for its antiseptic properties and its beneficial effect on the digestion. The phytochemical screening of hydro alcoholic extracts presenting the flavonoids, resins, triterpenoids, tannins and phenolic groups. The percentage of antioxidant potential is 91.28, by DPPH method. The estimation value of total phenol content is 936±71, and total flavonoid conent is 479±66. The crude drug evaluated by the various physical methods, and all the results are within the limit of world health organisation prescribed. The antioxidant potential is evaluation by DPPH method. The phyto chemical screening based upon the colour reaction and estimated the chief phyto constituents like phenolic content and flavonoid. This work identification and characterisation of the purity and quality of the monograph of the Mentha arvensis. This work is more useful to further researchers.

Końska mięta (Mentha arvensis), kobyli szczaw (Rumex obtusifolius) i krowi mlecz (Taraxacum officinale)

Field Mint [Polish: “Horse Mint”] (Mentha arvensis), Curly Dock [Polish: “Mare Dock”] (Rumex obtusifolius) and Dandelion [Polish: “Cow Dandelion”] (Taraxacum officinale). On the Names of Farm Animals in Folk Phytonyms The subject of the article are folk phytonyms with an animal component. While analyzing the “animal” names of plants in the cultural context, the author reaches for so-called “co-linguistic data” (i.e. folk knowledge, beliefs and practices) related to animals and plants. Also, she arranges the phytonyms according to the semantic criterion, distinguishing the names of plants motivated by: (1) the animal’s appearance and (2) the appearance of the animal’s body parts, (3) animals’ smells, (4) the use of a plant as animal food, (5) the way in which the plant is used in folk magic and (6) in folk veterinary medicine. The analysis of dialectal names of plants in the cultural context makes it possible to consider the status of the animal part of the name. On the basis of her analyses, the author proves that both in the case of complex plant names and noun derivatives, the animal part of the name becomes “independent” in terms of a meaning and adopts qualitative meanings such as “big, great”, “dedicated to an animal (as food or medicine)”, “worse, useless for a human being”.