Document heading
Antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and analgesic activities of ethanolic extract of Mentha arvensis L.
- Open Access funded by Hainan Medical University
- Under a Creative Commons license
Open Access
ABSTRACT
Objective
To investigate potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and analgesic activities of ethanolic extract ofMentha arvensis L. in different in vivo and in vitro experimental models.
Methods
In vitro DPPH radical scavenging assay was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the plant extract. In vivo analgesic activity was carried out by acetic acid-induced writhing test in Swiss albino mice. All studies in mice were undertaken at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight. Antibacterial activity was studied by disk diffusion assay against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Brine shrimp lethality assay was used to investigate cytotoxicity effects of the plant extract.
Results
The extract showed free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay (IC50∼41 μg/mL) compared to the standard antioxidant ascorbic acid (IC50∼19 μg/mL). The extract also produced prominent antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Shigella boydii, Streptococcus pyogenes andStreptococcus aureus compared to standard drug kanamycin at the dose of 30 μg/disc. The extract exhibited lethality against the brine shrimp nauplii with the LC50 values of 40 μg/mL, and also 90% mortality (LC90) value was found to be 160 μg/mL. In analgesic test, the extract demonstrated statistically significant (P<0.01) analgesic effect in acetic acid induced writhing in white albino mice at both dose levels.
Conclusions
These results suggest that the ethanolic extract of Mentha arvensis L. has potential antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic and analgesic activities that support the ethnopharmacological uses of this plant.
KEYWORDS
- Antioxidant;
- Antibacterial;
- Cytotoxic;
- Analgesic;
- Mentha arvensis L.
1. Introduction
Mentha arvensis (M. arvensis) belonging to the family of Lamiaceae, is a small to moderate sized perennial herb, commonly known as pudina, corn mint or wild mint in Bangladesh and India. It is widely cultivated in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Srilanka, Thailand, and Japan for its use as a food seasoner, household remedy, and industrial purposes. The plant has been reported to possess a large number of different chemicals like α-menthol, neomenthol, menthofuran, d-menthone, isomenthol, isomnethone, menthylacetate, cineol, phellandrene, p-cymene, aromadendrene, limonine, piperitone, carvomenthone, pinene, carvacrol, α-pinene, α-phellandrene, dipentene, cadinene, thujone, menthofuran, carvone, linalool, linalyl acetate and piperitenone oxide which are used in pharmaceutical, food, flavour, cosmetics, beverages and allied industries[ 1, 2, 3 and 4]. The plant leaf and oil contain acetaldehyde, amyl alcohol, methyl esters, limonene, β-pinene, β-phellandrene, cadinene, dimethyl sulphide, and traces of α-pinene, sabinene, terpinolene, trans-ocimene, g-terpinene, fenchene, α-thujone, β-thujone, citronellol and luteolin-7-O-rutinoside[ 5]. It also possesses the flavonoids like quercetin, menthoside, and isorhoifolin, vitamin K, eugenol and thymol[ 2]. According to several reports the plant contains 90% mint oil. It contains monoterpenes (menthone, menthofuran, methyl acetate cineole and limonene), sesquiterpenes (viridiflorol), flavonoids (luteolin, menthoside, isorhoifolin, rutin hesperidin), phenolic acids (caffeic acid, chlorogenic and rosmarinic), triterpenes (squalene, a-amyrin, urosolic acid and sitosterol), phytol, tocopherols, carotenoids, choline, betaine, cyclenes, rosmarinic acid, tannin and minerals[ 6, 7 and 8]. More recently, linarin (acacetin-7-O-β-D-rutinoside) was extracted from the flower of the plant[ 6].
M. arvensis L. is used as a carminative, anti-spasmodic, anti-peptic ulcer agent, and has been given to treat indigestion, skin diseases, coughs and colds in folk medicine. Different parts of the plant have been reported to possess diverse medicinal properties. The leaves are stimulant, acrid, thermogenic, antispasmodic, antihelmenthic, anodyne, vulnerary, deodorant, sudorific, dentrific, febrifuge, contraceptive, carminative, digestive, expectorant, cardiotonic, diuretic and hepatalgia[ 7]. It is also used for the treatment of liver and spleen disease, jaundice and asthma. The infusion of leaves is used to treat indigestion, rheumatism, infantile troubles, vomiting in pregnancy, hysteria and as remedy for inflamed joints[ 9]. The plant is used in small amount in the mixtures of lotions, ointments and creams to treat skin disorders. It also acts as an antipruritic, a counterirritant, an antiseptic, a stimulant and an anaesthetic in treating dermatological cases. The entire plant, apart from the root, is used to treat coryza, fever, headache, rhinitis, cough, pharyngitis, arthralgia, neuralgia, abdominal colic, nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, diarrhea and prurigo. It is also claimed to be an emmenagogue[ 7]. The dried plant is used as an antiseptic, carminative, stomachic, refringent, stimulant, emmenagogue and diuretic[ 7]. The aerial part is used in Chinese medicine as a cooling remedy for colds, influenza, headache, sore throat and eye inflammation. It is also used as a liver stimulant[ 7].
Recent investigations have confirmed that the plant extract possesses hepatoprotective, anti-oxidant, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, sedative-hypotonic and antimicrobial effect[7, 8, 9 and 10]. The traditional uses claim that M. arvensis L. is a potential folk medicine but very few phytochemical and biological works have been conducted on this plant. This issue is particularly crucial for medicinal interest and, to the authors' knowledge, has not been resolved thus far. The present experimental study was carried out to evaluate the pharmacological basis for the use of the plant in folk medicine by using established scientific method.
