Antimicrobial effects of the phenolic compounds of Mentha piperita L on Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus and impacts on the quality of an alicament steamed yoghurt

This study contributes to the evaluation of the antibacterial effect of hy-droethanolic extract of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) rich in phenolic compounds on the growth of reference bacterial strains Streptococcus ther-mophilus (ATCC19258) and Lactobacillus bulgaricus (ATCC11842) as well as the consequences of its addition at a dose of 6% on the quality of a steamed yoghurt. The phenolic compounds of peppermint collected in Algeria were extracted from the ground leaves of the plant in a hydroethanolic solution. The antimicrobial activity of peppermint extract and the quality of yoghurt were assessed by the following measures: bacterial growth test, disc diffu-sion test, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), pH, acidity, viscosity and the organoleptic tests (taste, odor, color and freshness). The results revealed that hydroethanolic extract of M. piperita L. had 25 mg GAE/ml of extract of total phenolic compound and a content of 8.28 mg QE/ml of extract of flavonoids. This extract had a bactericidal against S. thermophilus and a bacteriostatic inhibitory effect against L. bulgaricus. The addition of phenolic compounds of M. piperita L. at 154.02 mg GAE/100ml significantly reduced (p<0.05) acidity, viscosity, and the germ increase of S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus in steamed yogurt prepared with 6% of hydroethanolic extract of the studied plant compared to the control. However, the fermented milk treated with the 6% of pepper-mint extract was very well appreciated by the tasting jury, just like the yo-ghurt control.

FITOTERAPIA NO CONTROLE DO Rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus, AGENTE CAUSADOR DA DOENÇA “TRISTEZA PARASITÁRIA”: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

Os Rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus, carrapatos bovinos são hematófagos e vetores de agentes patogênicos (bactéria Anaplasma marginale e protozoários do gênero Babesia sp.) aos animais e seres humanos. São ectoparasitos causadores de prejuízos econômicos na produção de leite, na produção de carne e mortalidade dos animais. Os bovinos sofrem com reações alérgicas, estresse, ferimentos causados no couro e por outras doenças relacionadas. A perda de peso e a diminuição leiteira das matrizes podem ocorrer devido ao agravo ocasionado. A doença Tristeza Parasitária correlaciona duas patogenias a Babesiose e a Anaplasmose. A resistência destes vetores para a Tristeza Parasitária nos rebanhos se deu, devido ao uso abusivo de acaricidas no tratamento químico. Este tratamento além de não ser garantia de cura aos bovinos, seu efeito agride os animais e o meio ambiente através de resíduos deixados. Os fitoterápicos utilizados como carrapaticidas oferecem menores danos aos animais e ao meio ambiente. Os fitoterápicos: Óleo de Neen (Azadirachta indica), Citronela de Java (Cymbopogon winterianus) e Citronela de Ceilão (Cymbopogon nardus L.), Hortelã ou Mentha piperita, Eucalipto (Eucalyptus spp.), Extrato de Jenipapo (Genipa americana), Alho orgânico (Allium sativum L.), Fumo em corda (Nicotiana tabacum), Melaleuca alternifólia, apresentaram um controle eficiente aos parasitos e repeliram também, outras doenças oportunistas recorrentes. Além de contribuírem para a saúde dos bovinos, bem como para a preservação do meio ambiente, e um impacto econômico de menor custo aos criadores. O objetivo deste trabalho é salientar o efeito dos fitoterápicos sobre essa classe de agentes patogênicos causadores da Tristeza Parasitária em Bovinos.

The effectiveness of agro-technological methods of medicinal crops growing on irrigation

The article presents the results of experimental studies on optimizing the planting density of medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae Juss family. (Gubotsviti) as a factor in the formation of their productivity in conditions of drip irrigation. Research work has been carried out with the most common medicinal crops of this family: oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) in the conditions of the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine during 2016-2020 on the lands of the Experimental Station of Medicinal Plants of the Institute of Agroecology and Nature Management of NAAS (Lubny district of Poltava region) with the participation of the Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of NAAS. In a one-factor field experiment, 8 elementary variants of planting density were studied: from 33 thousand / ha to 222,0 thousand /ha. Studies have shown that, despite genetic relatedness, members of the family Lamiaceae Juss. have a demonstrably different response to the density of planting under drip irrigation. Thus, the highest yield of dried oregano grass for both the first and second year of cultivation was obtained in the variant with a planting density of 166,7 thousand plants / ha. The most productive crops of lemon balm in the first and second years of cultivation were at a density of 83,3 thousand plants / ha. The highest yield of thyme for the first year was obtained in the variant of 222,0 thousand plants / ha, and for the second year - in the variant with a density of 111,0 thousand plants / ha. Peppermint formed the highest productivity at densities of 55,6 thousand plants /ha in both the first and second year of the growing season. A new scientific result is the obtained dependences of the yield of medicinal plants of the family Lamiaceae Juss. from the number of plants per unit area, which are described by the corresponding mathematical equations.

Effects of Natural Antimicrobials on Xanthomonas Strains Growth

The aim of this work was to investigate the most promising natural antimicrobials effective for the growth suppression of Xanthomonas spp. bacteria. The research objects were Xanthomonas spp. strains isolated from tubers and stem of plants growing in Lithuania: Xanthomonas translucens NRCIB X6, X. arboricola NRCIB X7, NRCIB X8, NRCIB X9, and NRCIB X10; the supernatants of lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis strains 140/2, 57, and 768/5, Lactobacillus helveticus strains 14, 148/3, R, and 3, Lb. reuteri 3 and 7, Streptococcus thermophilus 43, Enterococcus faecium 59-30 and 41-2; endophytic bacterial strains Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Paenibacillus spp.; and essential oils of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), pine (Pinus sylvestris), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), peppermint (Mentha piperita), lemon (Citrus limetta), aqueous extracts of blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), and cranberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). The antimicrobial activity of tested substances was determined by agar diffusion method. Supernatants of Lb. reuteri strain 7 and Lb. helveticus strains 14, R, 3, and 148/3 were found to have a high antimicrobial activity against Xanthomonas spp. bacteria strains when compared to the positive control—1.0% copper sulfate (diameter of inhibition zones was 28.8 ± 0.7 mm). The diameter of inhibition zones of supernatants ranged from 23.3 ± 0.6 mm to 32.0 ± 0.1 mm. Thyme (2.0%) and lavender (2.0%) essential oils inhibited the growth of Xanthomonas spp. strains. The diameter of the inhibition zones was from 14.7 ± 0.8 mm to 22.8 ± 0.9 mm. The aqueous extracts of blueberries had a weak antimicrobial activity. The diameter of inhibition zones ranged from 11.0 ± 0.2 mm to 13.0 ± 0.2 mm.

Mentha Piperita Extract as a Natural Product for the Corrosion Inhibition of Low Carbon Steel in a Polluted NaCl Environment: Chemical, Electrochemical and Biological Studies

The impact of aqueous Mentha Piperita Extract (MPE) as a corrosion inhibitor for low carbon steel (LCS) in NaCl/Na2S solution was investigated using chemical and electrochemical techniques to evaluate the protection performance of MPE. “As the concentration of the extract increased, the protection efficiency (PE) increased, reaching 91.2% at 300 ppm, whereas the increase in temperature favored to slow decrease”. The extract was physically adsorbed on the metal surface according to the Temkin isotherm. Polarization data revealed that this extract acts as a mixed inhibitor. The mechanism of corrosion protection of MPE was discussed from electrochemical techniques. MPE was adsorbed on LCS obeying Temkin isotherm. Surface morphology techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to demonstrate the creation of a protective coating on the LCS in the presence of MPE. The extract inhibits the bacterial activity of Escherichia coli.

Design, Development and Evaluation of Anisomeles indica Herbal Cough Syrup

The objective of the present study was to design, development and evaluation antitussive herbal cough syrup because designing of oral herbal formulation is still a challenge in modern pharmaceutics and the syrup formulation presents many technical problems to the industrial pharmacist. Potential antitussive herbs were used for developing the herbal cough syrup. Decoction of plant Anisomeles indica, Leaves of Adhathoda vasika, stems of Glycyrrhiza glabra, fruits of Piper nigrum and plant of Mentha piperita was prepared. One part of decoction was mixed with five parts of simple syrup IP (1:5) to prepare formulation. The formulations were evaluated by morphological characters, physical parameters like PH, Specific gravity, viscosity etc. Herbal cough syrup was also subjected for the accelerated stability testing (AST) for the period of 72hours at accelerated temperature conditions. No marked changes were noticed in all the evaluated parameters during AST. The laboratory scale preparation of herbal Syrup may be used as a stable, liquid dosage form and the work done in stability testing may help in the progress of shelf-life determination studies. The presence study includes design, development and evaluation of Anisomeles indica herbal cough syrup first time.

Biological activities and chemical composition of Mentha piperita and Syzygium aromaticum essential oil fractions against cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) is one of the major, common, pests of stored grains as it causes quantitative and qualitative losses in legume crops. This research sought to find the most active fraction in Mentha piperita and Syzygium aromaticum essential oils, to evaluate bioactivity of those crude essential oils and active fractions against C. maculatus, and to identify the compounds contained in the active fraction. The essential oils were fractionated using three solvents, namely n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The n-hexane fraction was identified as the active fraction, causing mortality, oviposition deterrence, and ovicidal effects. In fumigation chambers, LD95 values of M. piperita (Mnf) and S. aromaticum n-hexane fractions (Snf) were 0.045 ml/l and 0.057 ml/l respectively. ED50 values for oviposition deterrence were 0.016 ml/l for Mnf and 0.022 ml/l for Snf. ED50 value of ovicidal effects for Mnf- and Snf-treated eggs were 0.014 ml/l for both fractions. GC-MS analysis showed 8 dominant compounds in Mnf and 5 dominant compounds in Snf. Overall it is concluded that Mnf and Snf oils have effective biological activities against stored pest C. maculatus and have potential to be considered as alternatives to synthetic insecticides.