Screening Chemical Composition and Bioactive Properties of Mentha x piperita L. Essential Oil and Extract

In recent years, medicinal and aromatic herbs, which contain variety of antimicrobial compounds and have no risk to human health in terms of antibiotic resistance, are increasingly used as alternatives to antibiotics. In the study, chemical composition, total phenolic content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of essential oil and extract of Mentha x piperita L. growing wild in Eskisehir were investigated. Carvone (55.8%), limonene (12.8%), 1.8-cineole (8.7%) and trans-dihydrocarvone (6.4%) were determined as the main constituents of the essential oil, while the major components of the extract were carvone (56.4%), 1.8-cineole (14.1%) and trans-dihydrocarvone (8.4%). The total phenolic contents of essential oil (2204.33 µg GAE/g) were significantly higher than of extract (744 µg GAE/g). The essential oil and the extract were inhibited 84.08% and 42.59% by the DPPH radical, 91.87% and 48.40% by the ABTS radical, respectively. The highest inhibition zone was observed against S. aureus (23 mm). However, minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) values of the essential oil were ranged between 2.5% and 10% (v/v), while MIC values of the extract were determined as 10% and >10% (v/v). The present study demonstrated that M. piperita could be used in pharmaceutical and food applications as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial substance.

Plantas usadas en afecciones digestivas en Paraguay

La OMS promueve el uso de la Medicina Tradicional en la Atención Primaria de Salud debido a que ésta ha demostrado ser eficaz como tratamiento y prevención de primera línea para enfermedades agudas, tales como resfriados, diarreas, dolores de estómago, fiebres ligeras, entre otras, especialmente en sus fases iniciales. Este trabajo forma parte de la actualización de plantas medicinales que se realiza cada año, para ello se realizaron muestreos en los mercados de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Caaguazú, Villarrica, Pilar, durante todo el año 2019. En cada una de las comunidades estudiadas, se realizaron 14 entrevistas semi estructuradas a los vendedores y usuarios de plantas medicinales que asistían a consultas en las Unidades de Salud Familiar. Se identificaron las especies empleadas por los usuarios para las afecciones del sistema digestivo. 70 especies se emplean para uso digestivo. La familia mejor representada fue la Asteraceae con 11 especies y 9 géneros. El órgano vegetal más utilizado fue la hoja. Se calculó la importancia relativa de las enfermedades, encontrándose que el dolor de estómago es la afección más frecuentemente mencionada y las tres especies citadas con mayor frecuencia para el uso como antiespasmódico estomacal fueron Mentha x piperita “menta í”, Lippia alba “salvia rã”, Mangifera indica “mango”. Los estudios científicos confirmaron que dos de las especies mencionadas en este grupo presentaron acción similar a la mencionada en los conocimientos tradicionales.

Síndrome do intestino irritável: mebeverina ou óleo de hortelã-pimenta? Uma revisão crítica baseada em evidências

Este estudo teve por objetivo reunir e analisar evidências científicas sobre a eficácia de duas abordagens terapêuticas disponíveis para alívio dos sintomas em pacientes com síndrome do intestino irritável (SII), o cloridrato de mebeverina e o óleo de hortelã-pimenta (Mentha x piperita L.). Uma revisão crítica sistematizada foi realizada a partir das bases de dados MEDLINE, CENTRAL e LILACS. Onze artigos referentes à ensaios clínicos randomizados abrangeram os critérios de elegibilidade. Os achados sugerem baixa evidência da mebeverina no controle dos sintomas intestinais da desordem, ainda que, apenas um dos estudos preocupou-se em relatar a ocorrência de efeitos adversos. Já o óleo de hortelã-pimenta mostrou-se eficaz e bem tolerado para a redução do quadro. Escalas de qualidade de vida também obtiveram resultados positivos com a fitoterapia. A busca por efeitos adversos durante o tratamento foi abordada em praticamente todos os ensaios. Em suma, as evidências apontam positivamente para o uso do fitoterápico no alívio dos sintomas da síndrome do intestino irritável, todavia a mebeverina permanece comercializada a um custo elevado e carece de estudos que demonstrem sua eficácia. Reforça-se a necessidade de investigações com métodos de qualidade criteriosos capazes de auxiliar boas escolhas terapêuticas na prática clínica.

Ethnobotanical study of the use of medicinal plants in the indigenous Pijao community in Natagaima, Colombia

Semi-structured interviews (80) were applied in order to document the medicinal plants used by the Pijao indigenous community in Natagaima, Colombia. As a result, a total of 110 species distributed in 54 families were registered, Asteraceae and Fabaceae (9% each) being the most important families. Regarding the parts of the plant, the most used structure was leaves (46.7%), the main form of preparation was infusion (32%), and the most used way of administration was oral (77.8%). The value of use of the species by informants (VUis), the relative importance of medicinal species (IRE) and the index of cultural value of medicinal species (IVUs) were determined. The most important species according to their value of use were: Tamarindus indica L., Psidium guajava L., Mentha x piperita L., Moringa oleifera Lam. The most reported ailments were gastrointestinal problems such as stomach pain and diarrhea, general aches, headache, fever, swollen liver, and respiratory problems.

Pendugaan umur simpan metode extend storage studies dan pengaruh lama penyimpanan terhadap organoleptik simplisia Mentha x piperita L

Mentha x piperita L. simplicial may undergo deterioration during storage, therefore it is very important to determine its shelf life. The determination of shelf life was done using Extend Storage Studies (ESS) method. This study was aimed to determine the shelf life and the effect of storage time on organoleptic simplicia M. x piperita. The sample used was simplicia that has been stored for 0, 15, 22, 30, 32, and 44 mounth in the simplicia storage warehouse with some long storage, and then the samples were subjected for moisture content analysis and organoleptic evaluation. The results showed that the shelf life of M. x piperita simplisia determined using the method of a water content parameter approach was 27 months. After 27 months of storage, although the aroma still can be preserve, there wa a decrease in the taste and the color of simplisia. In addition, there was increase in water content.

ANATOMICAL ASPECTS OF THE STEM AND LEAF OF MENTHA x PIPERITA L. (LAMIACEAE)

Mentha x piperita (Lamiaceae) has been known since ancient times due to its aromatic and therapeutic properties. The differences in essential oil composition among the members of the genus Mentha offer a diversity of strains with high contents of menthone, menthol, carvone, linalool, or other valued terpenoid components synthesized by the mevalonic acid pathway. The species was analyzed anatomically. As biologic material, stems and leaves have been sampled from crops, during the vegetation period, before blooming. From an anatomical point of view, transverse sections were made through stems and leaves. At the level of the epidermis, both in the stem and in the leaf, the secretory and the tector trichomes were highlighted. The foliar limb is hypostomatic, with stomata in the inferior epidermis, the stomata being of the diacitic type. The mesophilus of the foliar is bifacial, having palisadic tissue with a single layer of cells, located under the superior epidermis and lacunar tissue, located under the inferior epidermis.

Investigation of the long-term stability of various tinctures belonging to the lamiaceae family by HPLC and spectrophotometry method

The aim of the current study was to analyze the stability of rosmarinic acid in ethanolic tinctures of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), peppermint (Mentha x piperita), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.). High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC–DAD) was employed to monitor the concentration of the marker compound over a six month period. Furthermore, the tinctures were also evaluated for caffeic acid, total phenolic content, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. We observed that the concentration of rosmarinic acid in tincture stored in closed amber glasses at ambient temperature decreased significantly during 6-month storage. Furthermore, our study squarely confirms the fact that a part of rosmarinic acid is converted to caffeic acid. The tested tinctures can be listed in the following order according to the greatest stability of the marker compound: rosemary > peppermint > oregano > lemon balm > thyme > sage. The results of the study indicated a linear relationship between DPPH values and total phenolic (R2 = 0.92) or rosmarinic acid (R2 = 0.85) contents.