Planta Med 2019; 85(18): 1521
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3400014
Main Congress Poster
Poster Session 2
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of two Mentha species essential oils

A Filip
1   Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Biology,, Bd. Carol I 20A, Lasi, Romania
,
I Boz
2   NIRDBS/Institute of Biological Research, Department of Experimental and Applied Biology,, Lascăr Catargi 47, Lasi, Romania
3   Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Integrated Centre for Environmental Science Studies in the North-East Development Region – CERNESIM,, Bd. Carol I 11, Lasi, Romania
,
S Dunca
1   Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Biology,, Bd. Carol I 20A, Lasi, Romania
,
G-A Ștefan∗
1   Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Biology,, Bd. Carol I 20A, Lasi, Romania
,
M-M Zamfirache
1   Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Biology,, Bd. Carol I 20A, Lasi, Romania
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 December 2019 (online)

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Species belonging to the Mentha genus have many pharmacological and nutritional properties, with great economic importance in terms of the presence of essential oils (Bhat et al., 2002; Elmasta, 2006; Yadegarinia, 2006).

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the chemical composition of essential oils of M. spicata L. and M. x piperita L. in order to highlight their antimicrobial activities. The plant material was collected at two different stages of development (vegetative and anthesis). The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation according to European Pharmacopoeia standards. The separation and the identification of the components were carried out using GC-MS.

In order to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the volatile oils, two different methods were used: microplate method and the Kirby-Bauer diffusion method. Chemical analysis of essential oils led to the identification of 52 terpenes, among which linalool, carvone and p-menthan-1-ol appeared as major compounds. Following testing of essential oils on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli it was contingent that all the analyzed oils showed antimicrobial activity, the minimum inhibitory concentration being of 0.1 % for all tested samples. The diffusion method showed an evident inhibitory action for E. coli (40 mm) in the case of M. x piperita volatile oil (anthesis stage) versus 19 mm, in S. aureus species at the same sample.

It can be concluded that essential oils of Mentha species possess great antimicrobial potential and could be used in pharmaceuticals and natural therapies of infectious diseases for humans or management of plant diseases.

 

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