Modulating peppermint oil flavor release properties of emulsion-filled protein gels: Impact of cross-linking method and matrix composition.

For some food applications, it is desirable to control the flavor release profiles of volatile flavor compounds. In this study, the effects of crosslinking method and protein composition on the flavor release properties of emulsion-filled protein hydrogels were explored, using peppermint essential oil as a model volatile compound. Emulsion-filled protein gels with different properties were prepared using different crosslinking methods and gelatin concentrations. Flavor release from the emulsion gels was then monitored using an electronic nose, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and sensory evaluation. Enzyme-crosslinked gels had greater hardness and storage modulus than heat-crosslinked ones. The hardness and storage modulus of the gels increased with increasing gelatin concentration. For similar gel compositions, flavor release and sensory perception were faster from the heat-crosslinked gels than the enzyme-crosslinked ones. For the same crosslinking method, flavor release and perception decreased with increasing gelatin concentration, which was attributed to retardation of flavor diffusion through the hydrogel matrix. Overall, this study shows that the release of hydrophobic aromatic substances can be modulated by controlling the composition and crosslinking of protein hydrogels, which may be useful for certain food applications.

Cyanobacterial elicitor enhances the biomass of Mentha piperita L. and improves the production of high-value rosmarinic acid under in vitro culture of apical meristem.

BACKGROUND: Rosmarinic acid (RA), like other phenolic compounds, is sources of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents in medicinal plants. In vitro culture of plants can improve the medicinal plants' metabolite profile and phenolic compound quantity. To date, various methods have been proposed to increase this medicinal metabolite in plants, among which the use of bioelicitors can be mentioned. In the present study, a native isolate of heterocystous cyanobacteria, Nostoc spongiaeforme var. tenue ISB65, was used to stimulate the production of biomass and content of RA in Mentha piperita L. (peppermint) grown in vitro from apical meristem. Mentha piperita L. explants were inoculated in half strength Murashige and Skoog (1/2 MS) medium containing cyanobacterial lysate (CL). After 50 days of culturing, the growth indices, the content of photosynthetic pigments, and RA in control and treated plants were measured. RESULTS: CL inoculation resulted in a significant enhancement in the vegetative growth indices of peppermint, including root and shoot length, plant biomass and leaf number. The content of photosynthetic pigments also increased in cyanobacteria-treated plants. Inoculation with CL increased the RA content by 2.3-fold, meaning that the plants treated with CL had the highest RA content (7.68 mg. g- 1 dry weight) compared to the control (3.42 mg. g- 1 dry weight). Additionally, HPLC analysis revealed the presence of several auxins in CL. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of auxins and the chemical content of CL such as K+ and Ca2+, as regulators of metabolic pathways and molecular activities of cells, may be responsible for the enhanced growth and phenolic compounds of plants under tissue culture conditions. An improvement in RA content in the tissue culture of medicinal plants treated with CL was reported for the first time in this investigation.

Variability in Chemical Composition and Biochemical Activities of Mentha x piperita L. Essential Oil, in Response to Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and Heavy Metal Stress.

The present paper highlights the effect of Pb/Cd-stress and/or mycorrhizal colonization by Glomus Intraradices on yield, chemical composition, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of Mentha x piperita L. essential oil. Our findings showed that mycorrhizal colonization could be used to improve the essential oil yield of M. x piperita, either in non-stressed or Pb/Cd-stressed plants. GC-MS analysis revealed three chemotypes: linalool/pulegone (32.6/30.8 %) chemotype in essential oils of non-mycorrhizal Pb-stressed plants, menthone/menthyl acetate (30.3/25.1 %) chemotype in essential oils of non-mycorrhizal Cd-stressed plants and menthol (44.6 %) chemotype in essential oils of non-mycorrhizal non-stressed plants, mycorrhizal non-stressed plants and mycorrhizal Pb/Cd-stressed plants. The cytotoxicity of M. x piperita essential oil, evaluated by brine shrimp lethality bioassay, was increased in presence of Pb/Cd-stress (from 379.58 to 72.84 µm/mL) and decreased in mycorrhizal plants (from 379.58 to 482.32 µm/mL). The antimicrobial activity of M. x piperita essential oil, evaluated by disc diffusion method and determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration against ten microorganisms, was enhanced by the mycorrhizal colonization and deceased by the Pb/Cd-stress. In conclusion, the inoculation of medicinal plants with mycorrhizal fungi is a real avenue for alleviating abiotic stress and/or increasing the quantity and quality of secondary metabolites in terms of biological activities.

Phytochemical analysis of carotenoid profile in Mentha piperita and Artemisia vulgaris: cytotoxicity in tumoral cells and evaluation of plasmid DNA cleavage.

Several medicinal plants have been administered to cancer patients attributed to their anticarcinogenic and chemoprotective properties, in addition to lower toxicity compared to traditional therapies. The aim was to investigate the antioxidant properties and carotenoid composition of aqueous extracts of Mentha piperita or Artemisia vulgaris which were previously found to exert beneficial effects on human health through diet. aqueous extracts exhibited potent antioxidant activity. A diversity of carotenoids was identified in these extracts using HPLC-PDA-MS/MS. Both extracts contained predominantly all-trans-lutein as the main component within this class. In order to investigate antioxidant properties, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) techniques were used. The (3-4,5 dimethylthiazol-2, 5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) and Crystal Violet assays assessed cellular cytotoxicity. Assessments of presence of reactive species were carried out following exposure of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line (SCC-4) to various aqueous extracts of M piperita or A vulgaris utilizing dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and nitric oxide (NO) assays. Exposure to these extracts induced severe cytotoxic effects, which led to investigation of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying this observed effect. Data demonstrated that both solutions induced oxidative stress and DNA damage, especially at higher concentrations using agarose gel subjected to electrophoresis. It is known that exposure to excess amounts of antioxidants results in a prooxidant effect which is beneficial in cancer therapy. Further, the extracts were found to reduce viability of SCC-4 in culture, indicating that this antitumoral activity may be of therapeutic importance and requires further study.

Peppermint as a promising treatment agent in inflammatory conditions: A comprehensive systematic review of literature.

Inflammation, a type of the body's defense against injury or infection, causes many chronic disorders including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Therefore, discovering natural compounds with numerous biological activities for the management of inflammation is highly recommended. Out of natural compounds, peppermint and its main component, menthol, has been suggested to possess antiinflammatory potential. Four databases including Web of Sciences, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase were searched to identify articles about peppermint and its antiinflammatory effects up to March 2023. Out of 3805 records screened, 14 articles met the study criteria. The evidence reviewed here proposed peppermint as an antiinflammatory agent. Peppermint may suppress inflammation by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase/unc-51 like kinase 1/nuclear factor-E2 associated factor 2 autophagy pathway, downregulating extracellular signal-regulated kinase-nuclear factor kappa B and mitogen activated protein kinases pathways, attenuating oxidative stress, suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and nitric oxide, and inducing the production of antiinflammatory prostaglandins. Due to the promising antiinflammatory effects of peppermint and the lack of human studies in this regard, future randomized clinical trials examining the effects of peppermint on inflammation and its related maladies are warranted.

Mentha piperita: Essential Oil and Extracts, Their Biological Activities, and Perspectives on the Development of New Medicinal and Cosmetic Products.

This review aims to analyze Mentha piperita L. as a potential raw material for the development of new health-promoting products (nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products). A lot of scientific publications were retrieved from the Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases which enable the study and generalization of the extraction procedures, key biologically active compounds of essential oil and extracts, biological properties, and therapeutic potential of M. piperita, along with perspectives on the development of its dosage forms, including combinations of synthetic active substances and herbal preparations of M. piperita. The results of this review indicate that M. piperita is a source rich in phytoconstituents of different chemical nature and can be regarded as a source of active substances to enhance health and to develop medicinal products for complementary therapy of various conditions, especially those related with oxidant stress, inflammation, and moderate infections. Essential oil has a broad spectrum of activities. Depending on the test and concentration, this essential oil has both anti- and prooxidant properties. Gram-positive bacteria are more sensitive to the essential oil of M. piperita than Gram-negative ones. This review also considered some facets of the standardization of essential oil and extracts of M. piperita. Among the identified phenolics of extracts were caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, eriocitrin, luteolin derivates (luteolin-7-O-rutinoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoronide), and hesperidin. The concentration of these phenolics depends on the solvent used. This review also considered the relationships between the chemical component and biological activity. The results showed that the essential oil and extracts reduced inflammation in vitro by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and in vivo by reducing the paw edema induced using carrageenan injection in rats. Therefore, herbal preparations of M. piperita are promising medicinal and cosmetic preparations for their usage in skincare and oral cavity care products with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. This plant can also be regarded as a platform for the development of antibacterial preparations and combined anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective medicinal products (synthetic active substances plus herbal preparations). This review could be considered for the justification of the composition of some medicinal products during their pharmaceutical development for writing a registration dossier in the format of Common Technical Document.

Peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita L.) increases time to exhaustion in runners.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of peppermint essential oil to improve the physical performance of runners in running protocol until exhaustion. METHODS: In a clinical, randomized, double-blind, cross-over and controlled study, fourteen male recreational runners (37.1 ± 2.0 years; 24 ± 1.1 kg/m2; 53.1 ± 1.7 mL kg min) performed two runs to exhaustion at 70% of VO2max, after intake of 500 mL of water added with 0.05 mL of peppermint essential oil (PEO) or placebo (PLA), plus 400 mL of the drink during the initial part of the exercise. Records were made of body temperature (BT), thermal sensation (TS), thermal comfort (TC), subjective perception of effort (SPE), sweat rate (SR), and urine volume and density. RESULTS: Time to exhaustion was 109.9 ± 6.9 min in PEO and 98.5 ± 6.2 min in PLA (p = 0.009; effect size: 0.826). No significant changes were observed in the values of BT, TS, TC, SPE, SR, lost body mass, and urine volume and density (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Peppermint essential oil added to water before and during a race significantly increases the time to exhaustion of recreational runners but without altering BT, TS, TC, or hydration status, so the mechanisms involved were not clarified in this study. BRAZILIAN REGISTRY OF CLINICAL TRIALS (REBEC): RBR-75zt25z.

Composition and Anti-Helicobacter pylori Properties of Essential Oils Obtained from Selected Mentha Cultivars.

Helicobacter pylori infections are highly common amongst the global population. Such infections have been shown to be the cause of gastric ulcers and stomach carcinoma and, unfortunately, most cases are asymptomatic. Standard treatment requires antibiotics such as metronidazole or azithromycin to which many strains are now resistant. Mentha species have been used as a natural treatment for gastrointestinal diseases throughout history and essential oils (EOs) derived from these plants show promising results as potential antimicrobial agents. In this study, EOs obtained from the leaves and flowers of five cultivars of Mentha × piperita and M. spicata were examined by GC-MS. The investigated mints are representatives of four chemotypes: the menthol chemotype (M. × piperita 'Multimentha' and M. × piperita 'Swiss'), the piperitenone oxide chemotype (M. × piperita 'Almira'), the linalool chemotype (M. × piperita 'Granada'), and the carvone chemotype (M. spicata 'Moroccan'). The chemical composition of EOs from mint flowers and leaves was comparable with the exception of the Swiss cultivar. Menthol was the most abundant component in the leaves while menthone was highest in flowers. The H. pylori ATCC 43504 reference strain and 10 other H. pylori clinical strains were examined for their sensitivity to the EOs in addition to their major monoterpenoid components (menthol, menthone, carvone, dihydrocarvone, linalool, 1,8-cineole, and limonene). All tested mint EOs showed inhibitory activity against both the reference H. pylori ATCC 43504 strain (MIC 15.6-31.3 mg/L) and clinical H. pylori strains (MIC50/90 31.3-250 mg/L/62.5-500 mg/L). Among the reference monoterpenes, menthol (MIC50/90 7.8/31.3 mg/L) and carvone (MIC50/90 31.3/62.5 mg/L) had the highest anti-H. pylori activity, which also correlated with a higher activity of EOs containing these compounds (M. × piperita 'Swiss' and M. spicata 'Moroccan'). A synergistic and additive interaction between the most active EOs/compounds and antibiotics possibly points to a new plant-based anti-H. pylori treatment.

Nanofiber mats functionalized with Mentha piperita essential oil stabilized in a chitosan-based emulsion designed via an electrospinning technique.

A nanostructured device based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) loaded with a cross-linked chitosan (CH) emulsion, soy lecithin, and peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita) was designed for topical applications using an electrospinning instrument coupled to a rotary drum collector. Different suspensions were obtained by varying the PVA to emulsion ratio (PVA:Em) 87.5:12.5, 82:18, and 75:25, using a PVA solution as a control. ATR-FTIR spectra confirmed the interactions among the components of the system. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the mats evinced that the aligned fiber diameter decreased with higher proportions of emulsion while dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed a decrease in the storage modulus. The entrapment of the functionalized emulsions not only improved the elongation of the matrices but also provided them with greater structural integrity compared to the single PVA matrix. The most favorable formulation in terms of mechanical properties was found to be the 82:18 ratio. After 1 h of close contact between the 82:18 matrix and a porcine skin explant, the latter was examined by confocal microscopy, which revealed the localization of the essential oil mainly on the surface of the stratum corneum (SC).However, after 7 h of contact, the distribution of the peppermint EO throughout the viable epidermis was observed, which was further supported by ATR-FTIR studies. Tailored electrospun matrices would have potential applications as devices for topical or transdermal treatments due to their vehiculization role that allows the diffusion of peppermint essential oil as a skin penetration enhancer.

In Vitro Antiglycation and Methylglyoxal Trapping Effect of Peppermint Leaf (Mentha × piperita L.) and Its Polyphenols.

The most significant reactive α-dicarbonyl RCS involved in the pathomechanism of glycation and related diseases is methylglyoxal (MGO). Hyperglycemia promotes the generation of MGO and leads to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Therefore, MGO trapping and glycation inhibition appear to be important therapeutic targets in prediabetes, diabetes, and in the early prevention of hyperglycemic complications. Peppermint leaf is commonly used as herbal tea, rich in polyphenols. Eriocitrin, its predominant component, in a double-blind, randomized controlled study reversed the prediabetic condition in patients. However, the antiglycation activity of this plant material and its polyphenols has not been characterized to date. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of a peppermint leaf dry extract and its polyphenols to inhibit non-enzymatic protein glycation in a model with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and MGO as a glycation agent. Peppermint polyphenols were also evaluated for their potential to trap MGO in vitro, and the resulting adducts were analyzed by UHPLC-ESI-MS. To relate chemical composition to glycation inhibitory activity, the obtained peppermint extract was subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis. The capability of peppermint leaf polyphenols to inhibit glycation (27.3-77.2%) and form adducts with MGO was confirmed. In the case of flavone aglycones, mono- and di-adducts with MGO were observed, while eriodictyol and eriocitrin effectively produced only mono-adducts. Rosmarinic acid and luteolin-7-O-glycosides did not reveal this action. IC50 of the peppermint leaf dry extract was calculated at 2 mg/mL, equivalent to a concentration of 1.8 µM/mL of polyphenols, including ~1.4 µM/mL of flavonoids and ~0.4 µM/mL of phenolic acids. The contribution of the four major components to the anti-AGE activity of the extract was estimated at 86%, including eriocitrin 35.4%, rosmarinic acid 25.6%, luteolin-7-O-rutinoside 16.9%, luteolin-7-O-ß-glucuronoside 8.1%, and others 14%. The effect of peppermint dry extract and polyphenols in inhibiting MGO-induced glycation in vitro was comparable to that of metformin used as a positive control.

Chemical and Antimicrobial Characterization of Mentha piperita L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. Essential Oils and In Vitro Potential Cytotoxic Effect in Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed forms of cancer, and the therapeutic solutions are frequently aggressive requiring improvements. Essential oils (EOs) are secondary metabolites of aromatic plants with important pharmacological properties that proved to be beneficial in multiple pathologies including cancer. Mentha piperita L. (M_EO) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (R_EO) essential oils are well-known for their biological effects (antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic in different cancer cells), but their potential as complementary treatment in colorectal cancer is underexplored. The aim of the present study was to investigate the M_EO and R_EO in terms of chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic effects in a colorectal cancer cell line-HCT 116. The gas-chromatographic analysis revealed menthone and menthol, and eucalyptol, α-pinene and L-camphor as major compounds in M_EO and R_EO respectively. M_EO exhibited potent antimicrobial activity, moderate antioxidant activity and a low cytotoxic effect in HCT 116 cells. R_EO presented a significant cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer cells and a low antimicrobial effect. The cytotoxic effect on non-cancerous cell line HaCaT was not significant for both essential oils. These results may provide an experimental basis for further research concerning the potential use of M_EO and R_EO for anticancer treatment.

Detoxification of monoterpenes by a family of plant glycosyltransferases.

Plant monoterpenes are challenging compounds, since they often act as solvents, and thus have both phytotoxic and antimicrobial properties. In this study an approach is developed to identify and characterize enzymes that can detoxify monoterpenoids, and thus would protect both plants and microbial production systems from these compounds. Plants respond to the presence of monoterpenes by expressing glycosyltransferases (UGTs), which conjugate the monoterpenoids into glycosides. By identifying these enzymes in a transcriptomics approach using Mentha × piperita, a family of UGTs was identified which is active on cyclic monoterpenoids such as menthol, and on acyclic monoterpenoids such as geranic acid. Other members of this family, from tomato, were also shown to be active on these monoterpenoids. In vitro and in vivo activity of different UGTs were tested with different substrates. We found that some glycosyltransferases significantly affect the toxicity of selected monoterpenoids in Escherichia coli, suggesting that glycosyltransferases can protect cells from monoterpenoid toxicity.

Peppermint protocol: first results for gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry.

ThePeppermint Initiativeseeks to inform the standardisation of breath analysis methods. FivePeppermint Experimentswith gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), operating in the positive mode with a tritium3H 5.68 keV, 370 MBq ionisation source, were undertaken to provide benchmarkPeppermint Washoutdata for this technique, to support its use in breath-testing, analysis, and research. Headspace analysis of a peppermint-oil capsule by GC-IMS with on-column injection (0.5 cm3) identified 12 IMS responsive compounds, of which the four most abundant were: eucalyptol;ß-pinene;α-pinene; and limonene. Elevated concentrations of these four compounds were identified in exhaled-breath following ingestion of a peppermint-oil capsule. An unidentified compound attributed as a volatile catabolite of peppermint-oil was also observed. The most intense exhaled peppermint-oil component was eucalyptol, which was selected as a peppermint marker for benchmarking GC-IMS. Twenty-five washout experiments monitored levels of exhaled eucalyptol, by GC-IMS with on-column injection (0.5 cm3), att= 0 min, and then att+ 60,t+ 90,t+ 165,t+ 285 andt+ 360 min from ingestion of a peppermint capsule resulting in 148 peppermint breath analyses. Additionally, thePeppermint Washoutdata was used to evaluate clinical deployments with a further five washout tests run in clinical settings generating an additional 35 breath samples. Regression analysis yielded an average extrapolated time taken for exhaled eucalyptol levels to return to baseline values to be 429 ± 62 min (±95% confidence-interval). The benchmark value was assigned to the lower 95% confidence-interval, 367 min. Further evaluation of the data indicated that the maximum number of volatile organic compounds discernible from a 0.5 cm3breath sample was 69, while the use of an in-line biofilter appeared to reduce this to 34.

Peppermint Essential Oil and Its Major Volatiles as Protective Agents against Soft Rot Caused by Fusarium sambucinum in Cera Pepper (Capsicum pubescens).

Cera pepper (Capsicum pubescens) is an exotic fruit considered as a rich source of nutraceuticals with known benefits for human health and also an economic resource for local producers in Mexico. The present investigation reports on the in vitro and in situ antifungal activity of the essential oil from Mentha piperita and its two major volatiles (menthol and menthone) against Fusarium sambucinum, which is a causal agent of soft rot in cera pepper. The application of these components in pepper fruits previously infected with F. sambucinum caused a significant delay (p<0.05) in the emergence of soft rot symptoms. This effect was reflected in the maintenance of pH and fruit firmness during a period of 10 days. The nutrimental content of the fruits (protein, fiber, fat and other proximate parameters) was conserved in the same period of time. The nutraceutical content of these fruits was estimated by the quantification of seven carotenoids (violaxanthin, cis-violaxanthin, luteoxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and ß-carotene), ascorbic acid and capsaicinoids (capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin). According to our results, the essential oil from M. Piperita and its major volatiles exerted a preservative effect on these metabolites. Our findings demonstrated that the essential oil of M. Piperita and its major volatiles represent an ecological alternative for the control of fusariosis caused by F. sambucinum in cera peppers under postharvest conditions.

Preparation and Optimization of Peppermint (Mentha pipertia) Essential Oil Nanoemulsion with Effective Herbal Larvicidal, Pupicidal, and Ovicidal Activity against Anopheles stephensi.

OBJECTIVES: The Plasmodium parasite is transmitted directly to humans through the Anopheles mosquito bite and causes vector-borne malaria, leading to the transmission of the disease in Southeast Asia, including India. The problem of persistent toxicity, along with the growing incidence of insect resistance, has led to the use of green pesticides to control the spread of the disease in a cost-effective and environment-friendly manner. Based on this objective, this work investigated the larvicidal, pupicidal, and ovicidal activity of Mentha pipertia using a natural nanoemulsion technique. METHODS: GC-MS characterized essential oils of Mentha pipertia leaves were formulated as a nanoemulsion for herbal larvicidal, pupicidal, and ovicidal activities. Size of the nanoemulsion was analyzed by photon correlation spectroscopy. The herbal activities against Anopheles Stephensi of nanoemulsion were evaluated in terms of the lethal concentration for 50% (LC50) and 90% (LC90) to prove low cost, pollution free active effective formulation. RESULTS: Chiral, keto, and alcohol groups are obtained from Mentha pipertia leaves' essential oil, and the nanoemulsions have demonstrated good results in the larvicidal probit analysis, with values of LC50=09.67 ppm and LC90=20.60 ppm. Activity results of the most stable nano formulation with 9.89 nm size showed a significant increase when compared to the bulk. CONCLUSION: The nanoemulsion of Mentha pipertia leaves can be a promising eco-friendly widely available, low-cost herbicide against the Anopheles mosquito.

Risk assessment of in vitro cytotoxicity, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Mentha piperita L. essential oil.

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition as well as antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties of the essential oil of Mentha piperita L. (peppermint). Fifteen chemical constituents were identified in the essential oil, for a total of 99.99% of the compounds. The essential oil exhibited antimicrobial activity against two Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of essential oil of Mentha piperita L. for Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes was 1.84 µg/ml, whereas the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were 3.7 and 7.43 µg/ml, respectively. The oil displayed potent antioxidant activity inhibiting up to approximately73% of 2,2'-azinothiobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals. In the cytotoxicity assay, the highest essential oil concentration (100 µg/ml) resulted in viability of approximately 90% human epidermal keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. With respect to antitumor activity in C6 rat glioma cells, there was significant reduction in cell viability: 56-74% in 24 hr, and 71-77% in 48 hr. Data suggest that in presence of the essential oil of Mentha piperita L. antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor and non-cytotoxic properties were noted.

Profiling of Antifungal Activities and In Silico Studies of Natural Polyphenols from Some Plants.

A worldwide increase in the incidence of fungal infections, emergence of new fungal strains, and antifungal resistance to commercially available antibiotics indicate the need to investigate new treatment options for fungal diseases. Therefore, the interest in exploring the antifungal activity of medicinal plants has now been increased to discover phyto-therapeutics in replacement to conventional antifungal drugs. The study was conducted to explore and identify the mechanism of action of antifungal agents of edible plants, including Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Amomum subulatum, Trigonella foenumgraecum, Mentha piperita, Coriandrum sativum, Lactuca sativa, and Brassica oleraceae var. italica. The antifungal potential was assessed via the disc diffusion method and, subsequently, the extracts were assessed for phytochemicals and total antioxidant activity. Potent polyphenols were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and antifungal mechanism of action was evaluated in silico. Cinnamomum zeylanicum exhibited antifungal activity against all the tested strains while all plant extracts showed antifungal activity against Fusarium solani. Rutin, kaempferol, and quercetin were identified as common polyphenols. In silico studies showed that rutin displayed the greatest affinity with binding pocket of fungal 14-alpha demethylase and nucleoside diphosphokinase with the binding affinity (Kd, -9.4 and -8.9, respectively), as compared to terbinafine. Results indicated that Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cinnamomum tamala exert their antifungal effect possibly due to kaempferol and rutin, respectively, or possibly by inhibition of nucleoside diphosphokinase (NDK) and 14-alpha demethylase (CYP51), while Amomum subulatum and Trigonella foenum graecum might exhibit antifungal potential due to quercetin. Overall, the study demonstrates that plant-derived products have a high potential to control fungal infections.

Comparative Study on Microencapsulation of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) Essential Oils via Spray-Drying Technique.

Essential oils have been studied for various applications, including for therapeutic purposes. There is extensive literature regarding their properties; however, their low stability limits their application. Generally, the microencapsulation of essential oils allows enhanced stability and enables the potential incorporation in solid dosage forms. Lavender and peppermint oils were encapsulated in microparticles using a spray-drying technique under optimized conditions: 170 °C temperature, 35 m3/h aspiration volume flow, and 7.5 mL/min feed flow. Arabic gum and maltodextrin were used as coating polymers individually in varying concentrations from 5 to 20% (w/v) and in combination. The microparticles were studied for morphology, particle size, oil content, and flowability. The formulated powder particles showed a high yield of 71 to 84%, mean diameter 2.41 to 5.99 µm, and total oil content of up to 10.80%. The results showed that both the wall material type and concentration, as well as the type of essential oil, significantly affected the encapsulation process and the final particle characteristics. Our study has demonstrated that the encapsulation of lavender and peppermint oils in Arabic gum/maltodextrin microparticles by spray-drying represents a feasible approach for the conversion of liquids into solids regarding their further use in powder technology.

Potential Application of Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) as Active Fillers in Natural Rubber Biocomposites.

In this study, peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) were applied as natural fibrous fillers to create biocomposites containing substances of plant origin. The purpose of the work was to investigate the activity and effectiveness of selected plants as a material for the modification of natural rubber composites. This research was the first approach to examine the usefulness of peppermint, German chamomile and yarrow in the field of polymer technology. Dried and ground plant particles were subjected to Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-Vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), goniometric measurements (contact angle) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characterization of natural rubber composites filled with bio-additives was performed including rheometric measurements, FTIR, TGA, cross-linking density, mechanical properties and colour change after simulated aging processes. Composites filled with natural fillers showed improved barrier properties and mechanical strength. Moreover, an increase in the cross-linking density of the materials before and after the simulated aging processes, compared to the reference sample, was observed.

The evaluation of phenolic content, in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Mentha piperita extracts obtained by natural deep eutectic solvents.

The focus of this study was to evaluate whether six choline chloride-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) could serve as solvents for the extraction of bioactives from the leaves of Mentha piperita. NADES extracted significantly higher amounts of phenols from peppermint than 70% ethanol and may be useful in the extraction of targeted major compounds from peppermint, like rosmarinic acid, at a similar level as 70% ethanol. The microdilution method for in vitro antibacterial activity showed that all NADES exhibit bacterial growth inhibition at a lower concentration than 70% ethanol, especially NADESs containing organic acids. The majority of NADES extracts neutralize DPPH radical at a lower concentration than conventional solvent and showed similar ability to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+ ions in FRAP assay. NADES can be useful in the isolation of phenolic compounds from plant sources and should be considered as novel, sustainable, and low-cost solvents with a variety of applications.