Plants of Genus Mentha: From Farm to Food Factory.

Plants (Basel). 2018 Sep 4;7(3). pii: E70. doi: 10.3390/plants7030070. Salehi B1,2, Stojanović-Radić Z3, Matejić J4, Sharopov F5, Antolak H6, Kręgiel D7, Sen S8, Sharifi-Rad M9, Acharya K10, Sharifi-Rad R11, Martorell M12, Sureda A13, Martins N14,15, Sharifi-Rad J16,17. Author information 1 Medical Ethics and Law Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1983963113, Iran. bahar.salehi007@gmail.com. 2 Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1983963113, Iran. bahar.salehi007@gmail.com. 3 Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia. zstojanovicradic@yahoo.com. 4 Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Boulevard Dr Zorana Đinđića 81, 18000 Niš, Serbia. jekamatejic@gmail.com. 5 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Rudaki 139, Dushanbe 734003, Tajikistan. shfarukh@mail.ru. 6 Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, 90-924 Łódź, Poland. hubert.antolak@gmail.com. 7 Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, 90-924 Łódź, Poland. dorota.kregiel@p.lodz.pl. 8 Molecular and Applied Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Centre of Advanced Study, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700019, India. surjitsen09@gmail.com. 9 Department of Medical Parasitology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol 61663335, Iran. mehdi_sharifirad@yahoo.com. 10 Molecular and Applied Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Centre of Advanced Study, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700019, India. krish_paper@yahoo.com. 11 Zabol Medicinal Plants Research Center, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol 61615585, Iran. razieh.sharifirad@gmail.com. 12 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepcion, Concepcion, 4070386 VIII-Bio Bio Region, Chile. martorellpons@gmail.com. 13 Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress and CIBEROBN (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition), University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain. tosugo@hotmail.com. 14 Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal. ncmartins@med.up.pt. 15 Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal. ncmartins@med.up.pt. 16 Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 11369, Iran. javad.sharifirad@gmail.com. 17 Department of Chemistry, Richardson College for the Environmental Science Complex, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9, Canada. javad.sharifirad@gmail.com. Abstract Genus Mentha, a member of Lamiaceae family, encompasses a series of species used on an industrial scale and with a well-described and developed culture process. Extracts of this genus are traditionally used as foods and are highly valued due to the presence of significant amounts of antioxidant phenolic compounds. Many essential oil chemotypes show distinct aromatic flavor conferred by different terpene proportions. Mint extracts and their derived essential oils exert notable effects against a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi or yeasts, tested both in vitro or in various food matrices. Their chemical compositions are well-known, which suggest and even prompt their safe use. In this review, genus Mentha plant cultivation, phytochemical analysis and even antimicrobial activity are carefully described. Also, in consideration of its natural origin, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, a special emphasis was given to mint-derived products as an interesting alternative to artificial preservatives towards establishing a wide range of applications for shelf-life extension of food ingredients and even foodstuffs. Mentha cultivation techniques markedly influence its phytochemical composition. Both extracts and essential oils display a broad spectrum of activity, closely related to its phytochemical composition. Therefore, industrial implementation of genus Mentha depends on its efficacy, safety and neutral taste. KEYWORDS: Mentha genus; antimicrobials; chemotypes; culture conditions; essential oil; food preservatives; plant extracts PMID: 30181483 PMCID: PMC6161068 DOI: 10.3390/plants7030070 Free PMC Article