Biochemical Analysis of Leaves of Mentha Species and In Vitro Determination of Bioactivities

Abstract

Plants secondary metabolites are responsible for various biological activities. Essential oils of plants are also secondary metabolites that have curative and pharmaceutical effects such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and insect repellent. The mentha species are potential candidates for development of drugs due to their efficient antimicrobial, antioxidant and radical- scavenging activities and reliable cytotoxicity

In the current study Mentha species (Mentha arvensis, M. longifolia and M. spicata) were assessed for their phytochemicals. The essential oils contents by using gas chromatography mass spectroscopy ( GC-MS) and FT-IR . The antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic and mosquito repellent activities of plant extracts were also determined It was observed that various mentha extracts are good source of flavonoids, phenolic, tannins and saponins . All mentha specie contained higher quantity of essential oils. The higher antioxidant activity of DPPH assay was found (  ) as compared to ABTS and H2O2. Where as higher zone of inhibition ( ) was obtained for S aures as compared to other microorganism . Where as plant extracts have shown lower cytotoxicity . Results from this work should lead to industrial uses for mentha spp. raw materials and, maybe, their incorporation into pharmaceuticals that are essential to human health.