Comparative evaluation of essential oil bioactivities of Mentha longifolia from Marivan and Qaza An

Considering the adverse effects of synthetic antioxidants, anticancer drugs and antibiotics on human health, in this study, bioactivities of Mentha longifolia essential oils collected from Marivan and Qaza An were examined and compared with each other for identification a natural alternative of synthetic antioxidants, anticancer drugs and antibiotics.

Essential oil of M. longifolia leaves and stems collected from Marivan and Qaza An was prepared using solvent-free microwave extraction method. The essential oil components were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The antioxidant and cytotoxicity activity of the essential oils were determined via β–carotene bleaching assay and brine shrimp lethality test, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was evaluated by the agar well diffusion method and by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration.

The main components of M. longifolia essential oil collected from Marivan were pulegone (81.45%) and isopulegol (8.39%) and the main components of M. longifolia essential oil collected from Qaza An were pulegone (48.29%) and piperitenone oxide (23.53%). The inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation by M. longifolia essential oils collected from Marivan, Qaza An and BHT were 80.02%, 78.59% and 95.50%, respectively. The LC50 of the M. longifolia essential oils collected from Marivan, Qaza An and vincristine sulfate were 53.47μg/ml, 55.96 μg/ml and 0.751 μg/ml, respectively. M. longifolia essential oils had good antimicrobial activity, especially against gram-positive bacteria.

M. longifolia essential oils have significant antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activity and can be introduced as alternatives of synthetic antioxidants, antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs.