Planta Med 2008; 74 - PA204
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084202

Analysis of some Iranian Mentha species

H Hajimehdipoor 1, H Zahedi 1, N Kalantari 1, Z Abedi 1, H Soleimani 2, M Pirali 1, Y Ajani 3
  • 1Department of Herbal Drugs, Food and Drug Control Laboratory and Research Center, Tehran, Iran
  • 2Giah Essence Company, Gorgan, Iran
  • 3Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutics, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

Mentha is a widespread plant cultivated all over the world. Different species specially Mentha piperita, are used for symptomatic treatment of IBS and other digestive disorders [1]. In this investigation, some parameters of six Mentha species are compared to each other. Aerial parts of M. piperita, M. spicata, M. aquatica, M. pulegium, M. longifolia and M. crispa were collected in May 2007 from north of Iran, and extracted with methanol 80%. For each species, total phenolics [2], hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives [3], total essential oil, menthol and carvone content and antioxidant activity using DPPH free radicals [4] were determined. The results showed that the percentage of total phenolics as gallic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives as rosmarinic acid, essential oil, menthol and carvone is in range of (3.56–8.60), (0.52–2.24), (1.50–3.00), (0.05–35.22) and (0.30–79.84), respectively. Radical scavenging property expressed as IC50 is in the range of (0.03–0.12)mg/ml. Among the above-mentioned species, M. piperita has the highest antioxidant activity as well as the other studied parameters (except carvone). Moreover, in all species the antioxidant activity is correlated to the phenolics and hydroxycynnamic acid derivatives content.

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3. Calam, D.H. (2002) European Pharmacopoeia. Council of Europe. Strasbourg.

4. Molyneux, Ph. (2004)J. Sci. Technol. 26:211–219.