Investigation of Chemical Compositions and Biological Activities of <i>Mentha suaveolens</i> L. from Saudi Arabia

<i>Mentha</i> is an aromatic plant used since antiquity for its pharmaceutical virtues. The climate of Saudi Arabia favors the growth of aromatic plants including <i>Mentha suaveolens</i> L. The aim of this study is to analyze the volatile oils of different parts of fresh and...

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Main Authors: Bashayr Aldogman, Hallouma Bilel, Shaima Mohamed Nabil Moustafa, Khaled F. Elmassary, Hazim M. Ali, Faddaa Qayid Alotaibi, Mohamed Hamza, Mohamed A. Abdelgawad, Ahmed H. El-Ghorab
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/9/2949
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Summary:<i>Mentha</i> is an aromatic plant used since antiquity for its pharmaceutical virtues. The climate of Saudi Arabia favors the growth of aromatic plants including <i>Mentha suaveolens</i> L. The aim of this study is to analyze the volatile oils of different parts of fresh and dried <i>Mentha suaveolens</i> L. grown in Saudi Arabia (Aljouf area) using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector (GC/FID) techniques, to recognize the effect of drying on chemical composition, then to evaluate the antioxidant and antifungal activities of different extracts. In total, 118 compounds were identified via GC/MS and GC/FID, in which carvone is the main volatile constituent (stems, leaves, whole plant 45–64%). This investigation deduces that <i>Mentha</i> belonged to the carvone chemotype. Then, the analysis of non-volatile constituents of fresh and dried <i>Mentha</i> was performed by HPLC. The main phenolic compound of fresh and dried <i>Mentha</i> for different parts was rosmarinic acid (ranging from 28,002.5 to 6558 µg/g). The ethanolic extract of fresh stem showed the highest antifungal activity (53% inhibition) compared with miconazole (60% inhibition) but the ethanoic extract of dry stem showed no activity. Additionally, all ethanolic extracts, whether for fresh or dry <i>Mentha</i>, have antioxidant activity more than 90% while the antioxidant activity of whole plant volatile oil is equal to 53.33%. This research shows that <i>M. suaveolens</i> L. could be applied to manufacture natural antioxidants, antifungal, and flavoring agents.
ISSN:1420-3049